Türkiye Sends Aircraft to Assist in Fighting Wildfires in Iran

Two Turkish firefighting planes, one helicopter, and eight personnel are set to arrive in Iran on Saturday to assist in extinguishing fires in the Hyrcanian forest in the country's north, according to Iranian environment chief Shina Ansari.

“There are warnings that the fire spread risk is high and we need to act accordingly,” official media cited Ansari as saying, The Caspian Post reports citing Iran International.

The blaze in the Elit area ongoing since last week, fueled by wind and dry conditions. Iranian helicopters and ground teams deployed round-the-clock, but rugged terrain has hampered efforts.

Iran seeks international aid as the massive wildfire rages in UNESCO-listed Hyrcanian forest near the town of Chalous.

“Heartbreaking scenes from Elit, Iran, where wildfire is damaging parts of the ancient Hyrcanian forests - a UNESCO World Heritage treasure and one of Earth’s last temperate rainforests,” Kaveh Madani, director of the UN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health posted on X.

“Iranians are losing a natural heritage older than Persian civilization,” he added.