Forest fires raze four different spots in Antalya’s Manavgat

* Photo and news: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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The efforts to put out the multiple forest fires in Antalya's Manavgat have been underway both from the air and ground.

The fires that broke out in the neighborhoods of Kavaklı, Sarılar, Kalemler and Yeniköy for reasons yet unknown have quickly spread as a result of the wind. 19 helicopters, 103 water sprinklers, 6 excavators, 1 aircraft and 412 forest workers have been referred to the area from 12 provinces of Turkey. The teams are still making efforts to put out the fires.

Manavgat yanıyor! Tarım ve Orman Bakanı Dr Bekir Pakdemirli’nin de orman yangınını yerinde yönetmek üzere bölgeye hareket ettiği bildirildi. #manavgatyanıyor #manavgat #antalya pic.twitter.com/vjp05k2dzK

— Antalya Hakkinda (@HakkindaAntalya) July 28, 2021

The fires have soon reached the residential areas. The citizens residing in the Kalemler Neighborhood's Azizler area have been taken to vehicles by officials and taken away from the scene.

While some houses have been damaged in the fires, some animals have also lost their lives as a result of the incident.

Speaking to the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), Manavgat Sub-Governor Mustafa Yiğit has warned that "the fire is getting closer to the residential areas," announcing that some houses in the neighborhoods of Evrenseki, Kalemler and Yeniköy have been evacuated."

* Photo: Süleyman Elçin

Stressing that the citizens living in these neighborhoods have been taken to somewhere safe, the Sub-Governor has said:

"Some citizens have been stranded in the neighborhoods in question. The Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), gendarmerie and fire brigade teams are making efforts to rescue the citizens. Fire brigade personnel from the neighboring provinces of Isparta, Burdur and Konya are also joining the efforts to extinguish the fires.

"An effective intervention in the fire is underway. We have no casualties. The fire has not yet been taken under control due to the north wind. In case of any spreading, the teams intervene in those areas as well."

Sub-Governor: It won't affect tourism negatively

The Sub-Governor has also said that the fire is far away from the coasts of the Mediterranean city: "The fire is in an area far away from the tourism region. There is no situation that will negatively affect tourism."

* Photo: Mustafa Çiftçi

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Bekir Pakdemirli will also reportedly come to the region and follow the efforts to put out the fires.

'I have never seen such a fire before'

Antalya Metropolitan Mayor Muhittin Böcek has also made a statement about the incident and said that he has never seen such a fire before.

Noting that all institutions are making efforts to extinguish the fire in cooperation, Böcek has said that "there are luckily no losses of life."

Finding it questionable that four different spots are simultaneously hit by fires, Böcek has noted that "it brings the suspicion of arson to mind."

"However, there is no clear information about this. Our priority is to take the fire under control without losses of life or property," he has added. (AÖ/SD)