MINSK, 12 July (BelTA) – Aerial units of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry continue working in Belarus and continue helping fight fires in mountainous and forested areas in Turkey, the ministry's press service told BelTA.
Since the beginning of the year various aerial units have performed 193 flights over Belarus and detected 33 fires. Aerial monitoring allows detecting fires in ecosystems early, thus accelerating their extinguishment and minimizing the consequences.
Two Mi-8 helicopters based in Seferihisar and Kesan, Turkey have already performed 55 flights and dropped water 158 times. Their total flying time has exceeded 72 hours. Apart from that, they delivered 72 Turkish rescue workers to fire sites.
It is not the first year Belarusian rescue workers have helped other countries fight natural calamities within the framework of international cooperation. Aerial units of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry have been used to fight forest fires in Greece, Russia, Latvia, and Georgia. They have also helped render aid in flood-stricken areas in Serbia.
