Erdoğan dismisses criticism over firefighting planes as wildfires blaze Turkey

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Efforts in Turkey continue to contain 14 forest fires that have broken out since Wednesday, while 57 have been brought under control, President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has announced.

"The battle against forest fires is still ongoing at 1,140 points," he told reporters after Friday prayers in İstanbul, adding that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) were monitoring the situation in the region around the clock.

"As of today, the number of planes has increased to five-six with the planes from Russia and Ukraine," he said, adding that Azerbaijan was also sending an amphibious plane. A total of 45 helicopters have been deployed, he noted.

Turkey was able to deploy only three firefighting planes, which has caused criticism from opposition politicians and social media users. Two of those planes were leased from Russia.

Critics point out the exclusion of the Turkish Aeronautical Association (THK), whose planes had been used in firefighting for decades, from firefighting efforts.

Erdoğan dismissed the criticism, saying that "They are making up things. The THK does not have any planes to fly here comfortably."

Earlier, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Bekir Pakdemirli said the THK's planes were too old and not useable.

Erdoğan also said that an investigation into the cause of the blazes in different parts of the country "continues intensively."

He did not rule out the possibility of "sabotage" as many fires broke out in a short period, saying that investigations were continuing.

"Erdoğan has 13 planes"

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Spokesperson Ebru Günay criticized the government's response to the massive fires during a press conference.

"The government's inability to deploy two planes to extinguish fires while [the president's] palace has 13 planes shows the peril that this country has been dragged into," she remarked. (DŞ/VK)