ISTANBUL: In a desperate search operation, Turkish scuba divers embarked on a mission on Sunday to locate three firefighters who went missing after their helicopter tragically crashed into a water reservoir near the picturesque resort city of Izmir in western Turkey.
The accident occurred as the helicopter was engaged in collecting water to combat a raging forest fire on Saturday night, as confirmed by Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli.
The ill-fated helicopter team comprised three Kyrgyz nationals and one Turkish citizen. Thankfully, one of the Kyrgyz nationals was rescued from the crash site and swiftly transported to a hospital, where he is reported to be in stable condition.
Minister Yumakli, in televised remarks, provided an update on the ongoing search efforts, stating, “The divers have identified the wreckage. They cannot see anything clearly right now because the visibility is very low.”
Climate Change Challenges in Turkey
This tragic incident comes amidst a backdrop of escalating environmental challenges in Turkey. The country has been grappling with the effects of global warming, driven by human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, which have altered weather patterns and exacerbated a prolonged drought that spans various regions of the nation.
Turkey’s commitment to fortify its emergency response mechanisms follows a devastating wildfire outbreak in 2021 that claimed the lives of nine individuals. Responding to these challenges, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expedited Turkey’s ratification of the Paris Climate Accords and directed significant investments into acquiring new firefighting aircraft, including planes and helicopters.
