Crash deepens disaster-hit Turkey's woes

ISTANBUL - Turkey battled disaster on two fronts on Saturday with eight people dying when a firefighting aircraft crashed and rescuers racing to find survivors of flash floods in the north that have killed at least 58.

Ankara and Moscow announced that all eight people on the Russian plane had died on the firefighting mission.

The air crash came just as Turkey was gaining control of hundreds of wildfires that had killed eight people and destroyed swathes of forest along the scenic southern coast.

Scientists believe such natural disasters are becoming more intense and frequent because of global warming caused by polluting emissions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent condolences to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, saying "the pain of this loss unites us".

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu added: "Condolences to our nation and to the Russian people. This heroic sacrifice will not be forgotten."

In Moscow, the defense ministry said five Russian servicemen and three Turks were on board the Russian Be-200 plane.