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Hatay (7,042 hectares), İzmir (6,321 hectares) and Antalya (6,211 hectares) were the three provinces which lost the largest forested areas.
Causes of the 42 percent of the fires were unknown, 34 percent were "negligence and carelessness," 12 percent were lightning strikes, 7 percent were "malice" and 5 percent were an accident.
Prof. Hüseyin Dirik from İstanbul University said that the situation is similar to Turkey in all Mediterranean countries.
"In the Mediterranean region, 50 thousand fires break out and 600 thousand hectares of areas razed every year. Turkey, being in this region, naturally experiences these fires. The fire is also a component of the ecosystem.
"But the biggest factor is human-caused sources. When we say 'natural causes' lightning comes to head but this is a low proportion. The rest is negligence and malice." (DB/VK)
Source: DHA
