ISTANBUL, Jul 31 (NNN-ANADOLU) – Turkey has been battling multiple wildfires that erupted in more than 20 provinces during the last three days, officials announced. Turkish Agriculture and Forestry Minister, Bekir Pakdemirli said, 57 of the 71 fires were brought under control.
“We are fighting the blazes with three aircraft, nine unmanned helicopters, one water supply tank, 38 helicopters, 680 water sprinklers, 55 construction equipment, and 4,000 personnel,” Pakdemirli said.
The death toll has increased to four, after a young person was killed in the blaze, while helping firefighters voluntarily in the south-western resort town of Marmaris.
“Fire fighting is going at a high pace, but we have not been able to control it,” Mehmet Oktay, mayor of Marmaris, told local media.
“Flames came with a humming sound, and blazes suddenly surrounded us,” Dilek Ozcan, a resident of a small village of Marmaris, said, over the phone.
The massive forest fire broke out in the southern province of Antalya on Wednesday. The blaze has not yet been taken under control because of the hot weather and wind. The fire that erupted in Bodrum, one of the popular tourist attractions in Turkey, forced the evacuation of several hotels, Bodrum’s Mayor, Ahmet Aras, said.
Cooling work is still on in the area, where about 80 hectares of forest land were damaged, Aras said.
“Our municipality teams have also been taking care of wild animals and stray animals affected by the fire,” he added.
Earlier, Pakdemirli said, a large-scale investigation had been launched into the cause of the blazes.– NNN-ANADOLU
