174 forest fires in 39 provinces in 8 days: 14 fires still raging

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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Forest fires have been raging across Turkey since July 28. According to the latest statement released by the Directorate General of Forestry, seven fires in Muğla, two fires in Antalya, two fires in Denizli, two fires in Isparta and one fire in Aydın are still continuing in southern Turkey.

According to the Directorate, 174 forest fire broke out in Turkey in the last eight days; while 160 have been taken under control, 14 are still raging.

Eight people in total have lost their lives in those fires so far; while seven people died in Antalya, one person lost his life in Muğla.

Following the debates, six countries have offered aerial support to Turkey, namely Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia, Croatia, Spain and Ukraine, which have provided 18 aerial vehicles, 16 free of charge.

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Bekir Pakdemirli previously announced that 163 forest fires erupted in 38 provinces of Turkey from July 28 to August 3. According to the Minister, while 152 of these wildfires had been extinguished, 11 fires were still raging as of yesterday evening (August 3).

Pakdemirli and Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu held a press conference in Marmaris about the recent situation amid forest fires.

Antalya

Speaking specifically about the Mediterranean province of Antalya, Pakdemirli said that while 17 of the 19 fires had been put out, two fires, the ones in Manavgat and Gündoğmuş, had still been continuing.

Muğla

Pakdemirli said that there were five fires that were still raging in Muğla, a neighboring province of Antalya in the Aegean region.

Noting that the fires in Marmaris and Köyceğiz were still ongoing, the Minister said that while the fire in Kavaklıdere was fully extinguished, the fire started again, raging in the area since yesterday evening.

Record-high temperatures in Marmaris

According to Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Pakdemirli, with 45.5 degrees celsius, the district of Marmaris in Muğla saw an all-time high of temperatures yesterday. The previous record-high temperature was recorded in the district on July 7, 1988, with 45.2 degrees celsius.

28 neighborhood evacuated in Muğla

Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu also announced that the number of neighborhoods evacuated in Muğla due to forest fires increased to 28 as of yesterday. According to the Minister, 3,219 households in total had been evacuated in the related 28 neighbourhoods in Muğla.

Minister Pakdemirli raised concerns that the fire in Muğla's Milas was still in a serious condition.

Flames come closer to thermal power plant

Milas Mayor Muhammet Tokat also posted a video showing that the flames have come closer to the Kemerköy Thermal Power Plant.

Durum çok ciddi. Termik santralin dibine geldi alevler. Varsa imkan derhal gece görüşü olan uçak ya da helikopter bölgeye yönlendirilsin...#milasyanıyor pic.twitter.com/WqQfjPyEUs

— Av. Muhammet Tokat (@MuhammetTokat48) August 3, 2021

"The situation is very serşous. The flames have come right beside the thermal plant. If you have the means, send a plane or helicopter with night vision to the region immediately," the Mayor tweeted.

Balıkesir-Manisa-Denizli-Isparta

Sharing information about the other fires, Pakdemirli said that of the 6 fires that broke out in Balıkesir's Savaştepe, one was still raging. 1 fire in Manisa's Salihli and 1 fire in Denizli were also still continuing. There were also ongoing efforts to take the fire in Isparta's Sütçüler under control.

78 villages, 2,219 farmers affected

Minister Pakdemirli also announced that 18 districts, 78 villages and 2,219 farmers had been affected by the forest fires in 5 provinces. The damage assessment efforts were reportedly still ongoing. (KÖ/SD)