A firefighting aircraft belonging to the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations has helped suppress large forest fires in Serbia. The crew's efforts proved highly effective.

MOSCOW, August 21. An Il-76 aircraft from the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations spent two days battling wildfires in Serbia and managed to extinguish large fire outbreaks, according to a ministry statement.

“Today, Il-76 aircraft from the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations conducted another mission to fight forest fires in the Deliblatska Pijesak area. The crew's efforts proved highly effective. We managed to control the main fire zones, which helped prevent the spread of flames towards populated areas,” said the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

The aircraft crew conducted five firefighting flights on the second day and dropped 210 metric tons of water. The firefighting operation is being carried out in cooperation with Ka-32 helicopters, which Serbia purchased from Russia, while Serbian firefighters are battling the flames on the ground.

“Working conditions remain extremely difficult due to unusually high temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius, a lack of precipitation, and challenging hydrological conditions caused by low water levels in the Danube,” added the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić thanked Russia for its assistance in fighting the wildfires immediately after the first day of operation of the aircraft. According to him, the Russian Il-76 saved 50 buildings threatened by fire thanks to its work.

TASS / gnews.cz