Two more die in southern Turkey forest fires, death toll at six
ANKARA
Authorities have found the bodies of two people killed during firefighting operations in Turkey’s southern Antalya province, sources said on July 31, raising the overall death toll to six.
Two others injured by the raging blazes in Antalya’s Manavgat district were evacuated and taken to a local hospital, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.
The fires in Manavgat had affected at least 275 people as of Friday afternoon, according to official data.
88 of 98 forest fires under control in Turkey: Minister
Turkey's agriculture and forestry minister on Saturday said his country contained most of the forest fires since Wednesday.
Bekir Pakdemirli said in a tweet that the efforts were underway to take the remaining 10 forest fires under control.
According to the figures he shared, forest fires are ongoing in Antalya, Mersin, Adana, Muğla, and Osmaniye provinces of Turkey.
Turkish authorities continue the efforts to contain forest fires in the Manavgat and Akseki districts of the southern Antalya province, with aerial and ground operations underway.
Fires in Manavgat had first emerged on Wednesday at four different points around noon, whereas the fire in Akseki emerged late Friday.
The wind blowing hard at some locations has made it hard to put out the fires, while settlements are at risk.
The aerial elements have begun to operate once again in the early hours on Saturday.
Locals, in addition to the professionals, also contribute to the efforts to take the fires under control.
Volkan Hulur, the governor of Akseki district, said a great deal of effort was put to prevent fires from spreading to settlement areas.
Hulur went on to say that 60 houses out of a total of 71 were burnt to the ground in the Kepezbeleni neighborhood and the fire was going in the direction of forest area while both air and ground operations were underway.
“Weather conditions make it difficult to take the fire under control,” he said, adding that ground units were battling the fires tirelessly.
Probe underway, teams search for trace of arson in fires in Turkey’s south
