Turkish Intelligence, Police Working Hard to Establish Causes of Forest Fires, Erdogan Says

ANKARA (Sputnik) - Turkish police and intelligence are investigating the causes of wildfires raging in the country's south, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday, adding that Russian and Ukrainian planes are being used to extinguish the fires.

"The investigation into these fires that started simultaneously in different areas continues. Intelligence and the police are working hard. The results will be announced. We extinguish the fires using four to five planes and 45 helicopters. There are planes from Russia and Ukraine, and one more plane will be transferred from Azerbaijan," Erdogan told reporters.

Smoke from a wildfire is seen in Manavgat, Antalya, Turkey July 28, 2021 in this still image taken from social media video.

© REUTERS / TWITTER/@ONURBURAKCELIK

Fifty-seven fires were brought under control, the Turkish president added.

The wildfire erupted in the Antalya region earlier this week, resulting in the deaths of at least three people, damaging multiple houses, and causing mass evacuations. Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin previously called the wildfire a national disaster.