Wildfires in Turkey keep the country on highest alert on 30 July, whilst fire crews are working tirelessly to tackle a wave of fires that is ravaging the southern and western regions of the country in particular, and which has forced the evacuation of hundreds of residents as the flames advance towards populated areas. Although 110 of the 115 wildfires reported since 28 July have now been completely extinguished, according to the latest update provided this morning by the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, İbrahim Yumaklı, emergency services are continuing to work to put out several active blazes, including in Alanya (Antalya) and Muğla.
Dozens of homes evacuated due to wildfire in Alanya (Antalya)
A forest fire that broke out in the Sapadere neighbourhood, in the Alanya district (Antalya province), spread rapidly over a wide area due to strong winds. The flames also reached the neighbourhoods of Fakırcalı and Beldibi, forcing residents to be evacuated as a precautionary measure. Initial reports indicate that a total of 45 homes were evacuated in these three areas, whilst teams continue to work to prevent the fire from reaching further homes, according to the Turkish news agency DHA.
Hundreds of personnel from the Turkish General Directorate of Forestry, the wildfire service, the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), volunteers and municipal teams are working round the clock on the ground. In addition, crews from other provinces have been deployed to reinforce the fire-fighting efforts, which are being made extremely difficult by the constant changes in wind direction, which are fuelling the spread of the flames in various directions. In some of the affected areas, residents themselves are working alongside the emergency services to try to contain the fire.
The governor of Alanya, Şakir Öner Öztürk, provided the latest update on the situation this morning: “We have immediately mobilised all our institutions and teams to tackle the forest fire that started in the Sapadere neighbourhood and has been fanned by the wind. At present, 2 aircraft, 2 helicopters, 93 vehicles, 130 teams and 325 personnel are working intensively to halt the flames. Although the blaze continues to spread due to the strong winds in our region, fortunately no casualties have been reported so far. 45 homes have been evacuated as a precautionary measure.”
Forest fire reignites in Fethiye (Muğla)
Meanwhile, Minister İbrahim Yumaklı explained that teams had been working throughout the night on the ground and resumed aerial operations at dawn to bring the forest fires in Gömeç (Balıkesir), Kaş (Antalya) and Seydikemer (Muğla) under full control. However, he reported that at around 02:00 this morning a new fire broke out in Üzümlü, in the district of Fethiye (Muğla), reignited by strong gusts of wind, according to the Anatolia news agency.
“This area, being densely covered with forest, was a truly dangerous place. Our colleagues sprang into action immediately and, by dawn, had significantly reduced the intensity of the forest fire. At present, cooling operations are continuing,” said the minister, who added that currently 21 aircraft, 69 helicopters, around 500 fire engines and more than 3,500 “forest heroes” are battling the fires across the region.
Fighting the flames in Mersin
The minister pointed out that low humidity, high temperatures and strong winds are the three main factors fuelling flames, and warned that gusts of wind will continue to be particularly intense in the coastal areas between Çanakkale – in north-western Anatolia – and Mersin, on the country’s southern coast.
It was in Mersin, in particular, that a forest fire broke out – for reasons as yet unknown – in a wooded area near the village of Karatepe, in the district of Aydıncık.
Following reports from several residents in the area who spotted a plume of smoke, numerous fire engines, first-response vehicles, water tankers, forestry workers and aircraft from the Mersin Regional Forestry Directorate were mobilised and are continuing to work to bring the flames under control.
Efforts to extinguish the wildfires in Seydikemer (Muğla) and Balıkesir continue
Teams are also continuing their efforts to completely extinguish the fire that broke out yesterday in the district of Seydikemer, in Muğla, tackling it from both the air and the ground, after aerial resources resumed operations at first light.
The fire is considered to be virtually under control, thanks in part to many livestock farmers in the affected area who have helped by transporting water in their own vehicles to the reservoirs used for firefighting. In this area, 52 head of cattle and 20 sheep were rescued and taken to safety.
Meanwhile, a statement from the governor of Balıkesir – in north-western Turkey – reported that both the wildfires that broke out yesterday afternoon in the neighbourhood of Altınoluk, in the district of Edremit, and the one in the neighbourhood of Kumgedik, in Gömeç, have now been brought under control. The fire that broke out in the district of Ayvacık, on the northern Aegean coast, which forced the evacuation of several residents, is also reported to be under control.
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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