Two Russian emergencies ministry planes preparing to combat forest fires in Israel
MOSCOW. Nov 25 (Interfax) - Two Beriev Be-200ChS amphibious aircraft of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry have arrived in Israel to help extinguish forest fires in this country, the Russian ministry's press service said.
"The Be-200 airplanes landed at the airport of Tel Aviv at around 8:00 a.m. Moscow time," the press service said.
Arrangements have already been made for interaction with the Israeli authorities.
"The Russian pilots will start to combat the fires any time soon. Preparations are currently underway," the press service said.
This assistance is being extended to Israel, which is facing a complicated wildfire situation, in accordance with the Russian president's instruction and following the Israeli side's request.
Russian Emergency Situations Ministry aircraft helped Israel to combat wildfires in 2010, when Russian planes were working to extinguish fires near Haifa and managed to put out major blazes.
Forest fires erupted simultaneously in several districts of Israel this week. One wildfire is currently raging near the village of Nataf, outside Jerusalem. Forest and bush fires are also burning near Latrun between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. A complex wildfire situation can be observed in the country's northern areas as well - near the cities of Haifa, Hadera and Zikhron Ya'akov. The Israeli authorities have declared a state of emergency and have conducted evacuations in several districts of the country. Police also asked residents of the Zikhron Ya'akov area not to return to their homes until November 25.