Russian jets join efforts in Indonesia to fight forest fires

Source: The Toronto Star

PALEMBANG, INDONESIA—Two Russian jets that can drop 12.5 tons of water arrived on Sumatra island Wednesday to help douse Indonesia’s massive forest fires that have spread smoky haze over parts of Southeast Asia.

The amphibious planes, leased by Indonesia’s government and sent by Russia’s Emergencies Ministry, can suck 13,250 litres (3,500 gallons) of water from a river or sea in seconds. Similar planes helped extinguish fires on Sumatra and Borneo islands in 2007.

National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said the two Beriev Be-200 planes landed in Palembang, the capital of South Sumatra province. The Russian jets will be deployed to fight the fires soon.

Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and Japan are among the other countries that have sent aircraft, firefighters or chemicals and experts to help fight the forest and brush fires that have raged for months.


Russian crew members walk on the tarmac in front of a Beriev Be-200 amphibious firefighting jet at the haze-blanketed Sultan Mahmud Baddarudin II Airport in Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia. Two Be-200 aircrafts leased by the Indonesian government have arrived on Sumatra island to help douse the massive forest fires that have caused widespread haze in parts of Southeast Asia.

Read more: http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2015/10/21/russian-jets-join-efforts-in-indonesia-to-fight-forest-fires.html

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Yeah, obviously I am a Putin lover trying to humanize the demonic Russkies. lol

Seriously, I am trying to defuse the constant fear and war mongering in the corporate media that seems hell bent on restarting the cold war -- or worse.