Wildfires have claimed the lives of four people in Turkey, with over 60 such incidents reported in the last week.
Wildfires have also erupted in other parts of the region, with more than 40 raging in Greece in the last 24 hours.
Turkey is burning. People are constantly posting horrific pictures and videos on social media with the hashtags ‘Turkey Is Burning’ and ‘Pray For Turkey’ regarding the fire of this country famous for tourism. According to social media, forest fires have broken out in 60 places in 30 districts of Turkey. So far 4 people have died due to this terrible wild fire. Thousands of people and tourists have been moved to safer places. (Photo: Twitter/Esha@ikohinoor) Agriculture and Forest Minister Bekir Pakdemirli said that it would be foolish to say that we have brought the fire under control. But our people and firefighters are facing this calamity with relentless bravery. Wherever he is getting a chance, he is trying to douse the fire. Or to stop it. (Photo: AP) The worst fires have spread in the Managat and Akeski areas of Antalya province. An 82-year-old man and a couple died due to this fire. On Thursday, a 25-year-old volunteer caught fire in the Marmaris area, about 320 km from Antalya province. Due to which he died. This volunteer was feeding the firefighters by bringing water from his house. Then he was hit by a motorcycle and he fell into the burning forest. (Photo: Twitter/@iamzaini) The entire Turkish sky is covered with smoke from the smoke from the forest fires. Firefighters are constantly trying to extinguish the fire at 20 locations in 6 provinces. The area adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea and the southern part of Turkey is more affected by the fire. In the last 24 hours, due to strong winds, the fire spread to 40 more places, which the local people and the administration are trying to extinguish. (Photo: AFP) When the holiday homes and hotels felt threatened by the forest fire on the mountain in the Marmaris area, all of them were evacuated from the tourists. More than 50 people are admitted in hospitals. Dozens of people are leaving their homes and living in the open. More than 25 villages have been evacuated in these two areas. (Photo: Twitter/Sana Karim) Many villages have been burnt by this fire in Turkey. Cars and cattle of people have been burnt. Many animals are getting burnt. They are being sent to a veterinary hospital or clinic for immediate treatment. Some firefighters are doing first aid to burnt animals on the spot. But the sight is so frightening, seeing it, people’s soul is trembling. (Photo: Twitter) From hotels and resorts located on the banks of the mountains at all tourist places, tourists are being transported in boats to safe areas by sea route. The Turkish government said that those who are responsible for setting this fire will not be spared. This is a kind of attack against nature and humanity. (Photo: Twitter/@iamzaini) Even before this, there was a fire in the forests of Turkey in the summer. Then the Turkish government blamed the Kurdish terrorists behind this fire. At present, this order has been implemented in all the states of Turkey that no person will go towards the forests at this time. Because it is in danger of burning, as well as rioters can further inflame the fire in the forests. (Photo: Twitter/@iamzaini)
Wildfires on Turkey’s southern coast have claimed four lives, and firefighters were battling blazes for a third day on Friday after dozens of villages and hotels were evacuated.
Officials say more than 60 wildfires have erupted across 17 provinces on Turkey’s Aegean and Mediterranean coasts this week. Fires raged in six provinces, according to the forestry minister. Officials have promised to hold anyone found guilty of starting them accountable.
In tourist-friendly areas, villages and hotels have been evacuated, and television footage shows people fleeing across fields as fires close in on their homes.
Fires were still burning in the Mediterranean resort region of Antalya and the Aegean resort province of Mugla, according to Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli.
“As of this morning, we were hoping to contain some of the fires, but while they are improving, we still cannot say they are under control,” he said.
Authorities say wildfires have erupted in other parts of the region, with more than 40 burning in Greece in the last 24 hours, fanned by strong winds and high temperatures. A fire raged through a pine forest north of Athens on Tuesday, destroying more than a dozen homes before being put out.
Large swaths of pine forest were also burned this week in Lebanon’s mountainous north, killing at least one firefighter and forcing some residents to flee.
In Turkey, firefighters on the ground and in helicopters were battling a blaze in Manavgat, 75 kilometres (45 miles) east of Antalya, that claimed the lives of three people.
On Thursday, one person was discovered dead in Mugla’s Marmaris area, 290 kilometres west of Manavgat. The fire was still burning in Marmaris, but Pakdemirli said there was no danger to residents.
The fires in Manavgat forced the evacuation of 27 neighbourhoods, according to Urbanization Minister Murat Kurum.
After fires spread around Manavgat on Wednesday, fanned by strong winds in hot weather, some areas in Adana and Mersin were evacuated. In Manavgat, a hospital was also evacuated.
Buildings in Marmaris, including a hotel, were evacuated. In the Aegean summer hotspots of Bodrum in Mugla and Didim in Aydin province, two separate fires broke out near residential areas.
Three planes, nine drones, 38 helicopters, 680 firefighting vehicles, and 4,000 people were involved in firefighting efforts in the provinces of Osmaniye, Kayseri, Kocaeli, Adana, Mersin, and Kutahya, according to Pakdemirli.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
