Tatar says extent of ecological destruction caused by fire ‘heartbreaking’

The president vowed to do everything in his power with the spirit of solidarity to help the country recover from this disaster.

In a written statement issued on Friday, President Ersin Tatar said that in addition to the two fire-fighting aircraft and helicopters from Türkiye, assistance had been sought from the Greek Cypriot administration and the British bases on the island through his Special Representative Ergün Olgun.

He added that coordinated efforts to battle the fire from the air resumed this morning at daylight after the flames grew out of control yesterday evening once the winds picked up.

Tatar said that a great effort was being exercised by fire-fighting teams to prevent the fire from spreading to other areas.

The president also said that now was not the time to bicker or to seek scapegoats.

“It’s important to concentrate all our manpower on putting out the fire instead of seeking someone or something to blame,” he said, pointing out that Turkish Cypriots have demonstrated time and time again, whether it was during the national struggle years, or the big forest fire of 1995 and more recently with the floods that swept the Girne region, how they succeeded in uniting during times of crisis and hardship.

Tatar added that planning and formulating policies together with all stakeholders on replanting and rehabilitating the areas destroyed by the fire must be their priority.

“This is what being a responsible citizen and politician dictates,” he said.

Tatar also said that there should be no doubt that the forest areas burnt by the fire will be replanted.