Major fire in Hatay burns 120 hectares

HATAY - Doğan News Agency

Helicopters from Hatay Forestry Department Directorate have worked to quench the fire, which has damaged 120 hectares of land. AA photo

A forest fire that began Oct. 21 at the foot of the Amanos Mountains in the southern province of Hatay’s İskenderun District has not been extinguished in two upper areas of the mountains.

Hatay Forestry Department director Mehmet Harbi said efforts to stop the fire, which erupted between İskenderun’s Suçıkağı, Aşkarbeyli and Güzelköy villages, are ongoing.

He said the wind in the region made it difficult to control the fire, adding that 120 hectares of land were damaged.

Harbi said the fire was still raging in two areas. “The forest fire that erupted in the İskenderun district is still ongoing in two upper areas. Our units are working with full effort and providing air and land support to stop the fire.” He said about 400 firemen from Hatay, Adana, Kahramanmaraş, Mersin and Osmaniye had joined the efforts to extinguish the fire, but a strong wind in the region was making air-backed work very difficult. So far, 70 hectares of forest land and 50 hectares of scrub have been damaged in the fire, he added.

Two Hatay Forestry Department Directorate helicopters worked to exstinguish the fire. Due to the region’s rocky, high and steep terrain sprinklers and fire crews had difficulty controlling the fire.

The fire has so far damaged 70 hectares of forest land and 50 hectares of scrub, according to reports.