Just Earth News | @indiablooms | 02 Aug 2021, 03:19 pm Print
Turkey wildfire Image Credit: Video Grab
Ankara: At least 100 wildfires charred forests, human habitats and large swaths of land across 32 provinces of Turkey along its Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. Eight people were killed in the blazes even as thousands of firefighters battled to contain the raging flames since the last Wednesday, according to media reports.
Last week, the government of Turkey said 57 of the fires had been contained or completely extinguished by Friday morning.
But Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli had said fires were still out of control in the provinces of Osmaniye, Kayseri, Kocaeli, Adana, Mersin and Kutahya.
Antalya and the Aegean resort province of Mugla, the Mediterranean resort region, were burning then.
Bekir Pakdemirli tweeted on Sunday that five fires were continuing in the tourist destinations of Antalya and Mugla, while 107 fires were “under control”.
The report said local television footage showed people fleeing across fields to escape the approaching flames.
Hundreds have been injured and thousands evacuated from their homes.
Administration evacuated villages and tourists from hotels from tourist spots in the affected areas.
Greece, also battling wildfires, said it was “ready to help”.
Wildfires have also erupted in other parts of the region, with more than 40 burning in Greece in the last 24 hours, fanned by winds and soaring temperatures, local authorities said.
Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Twitter on Sunday that seven deaths occurred in Antalya and one in Marmaris.
The fires in Antalya were in two districts while in Mugla, the tourist destination of Marmaris and others were hit by fire, according to Al Jazeera.
Panic-stricken tourists were evacuated from a village in Bodrum, a popular district in Mugla, said reports.
One hundred Russian tourists were also brought to safety from an eastern suburb of Bodrum, the Russian Consulate General said. They have been relocated to new hotels and were out of danger.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the affected regions on Saturday and assured the victims of quick help.
The number of fire-fighting aircraft has been increased to 16 with the support of Russia, Iran and Ukraine, he said.
One fire in the coastal town Marmaris was caused by children, Erdogan said. Turkish authorities have begun an investigation into the cause of the other fires and have not ruled out arson.
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