Fire-fighting helicopter stationed in TRNC

A fire-fighting helicopter from Türkiye arrived in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Sunday, where it will be stationed during the summer months.

The helicopter is now parked at a forestry department site in Lefkoşa, where it will remain until September.

The helicopter and its crew were greeted by the Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources Dursun Oğuz and the Director of the Department of Forestry Cemil Karzaoğlu.

Minister Oğuz told reporters that several fires had broken out in May and that most of them were human caused fires.

“The fire helicopter will be stationed in the TRNC to assist in putting out forest fires in the TRNC and Türkiye. A helicopter has been stationed here for the past three years, ever since we had the devastating forest fire in Tepebaşı. This helicopter will also be assisting efforts in Türkiye if needed,” he said.

The Agriculture and Natural Resources Minister also responded to criticisms as to why the TRNC did not purchase its own fire fighting aircraft.

“The cost of purchasing such a helicopter is too high,” he said, adding that the public needed to be more careful during the summer months, refraining from risky actions.

Oğuz also expressed his gratitude to the Republic of Türkiye for sending the helicopter to the TRNC.