Opposition leader calls out to Erdogan with suggestions to prevent future fires

After examining the destruction caused by the forest fire in Manavgat, CHP leader Kemal KILICDAROGLU (KK) said: “We all see where the existing system has brought Turkey. Every time an undesired event happens, they accept it as if it has happened for the first time.” Addressing President Erdogan, KK said: “Instead of buying yourself 13 planes, I wish you had bought 12 firefighting planes. You’ve been in power for 19 years. If one firefighting aircraft had been bought every year, we would have 19 firefighting aircraft today.”

CHP leader made his first visit to Antalya Manavgat after the fires that occurred in many places in Turkey. After examining the destruction caused by the forest fire, he made a press release at the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Crisis Center. His explanations were as follows::

”THIS IS THE BIGGEST WEAKNESS OF RULING POWER”

* First, the region should be declared at least a disaster zone. I hope the dimensions of the incident don’t get any deeper. Every year, there are forest fires. Every year, there is definitely a flood in an area. One way or another, we also experience an earthquake at certain intervals.

* But we try to take precautions from scratch, as if we are experiencing them for the first time. This is the biggest weakness of the power that governs Turkey. There is no planning, no foresight. Yesterday, I wanted to meet with the Turkish Aviation Authority (THK). The Turkish Air Authority is an institution of the same age as the Republic.

* I will give you some numbers, and make sure that the people who run the state do not know the numbers that I will give. Because they don’t know, they don’t know how to take precautions.

“THK HAD 19 AIRCRAFT, 19 PILOTS IN 2002”

* There is an incident… There are fires, life losses are in question as well as loss of property. Ministers coming in convoys… So, buddy, Why don’t you take the precaution on time? Every summer there is a fire, it happens in many countries. In 2002, the Turkish Aviation Authority had 19 aircraft to put out fires, with 19 pilots to operate them.

* Four of these planes were kept waiting in Istanbul, four in Izmir, four in Canakkale, four in Edremit. Three aircraft were constantly in the air, to immediately intervene if there were a fire. When we had 19 pilots and 19 firefighting planes in 2002, why not now? Where did these planes go?

“PREVIOUSLY THE STATE USED TO DO ITS JOB”

* In 2002, there were wildfires in 176 areas. The Turkish Aviation Authority (THK) immediately intervened, and no one even knew that there were wildfires in 176 areas. Because the state was doing its job. From the moment the fire started, they were intervening, there were planes, there were pilots, there was immediate intervention. (Now) none of this exists. 98 percent of our forests, 99 percent of our forests are in cliffs, valleys, bays.

* That is, where a person cannot reach or vehicles cannot reach to put out a fire. You can only intervene in this from the air. For that, you have to have firefighting planes. Helicopters also have their own risks. When the propeller rotates, it pushes the pine cones further and increases the fire.

SOURCE: sozcu.com.tr/2021/gundem/kilicdaroglu-yangin-bolgesinde-erdogana-seslendi-kendine-13-ucak-alacagina-12-tane-yangin-sondurme-ucagi-alsaydin-6565538/