Fire in Muğla thermal plant contained

Photo: AA

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The fire spread to a coal-fired power plant in Milas, Muğla yesterday (August 4) was contained in the morning, according to the Presidency Communications Directorate.

All personnel were evacuated yesterday and flammable materials were removed from the Kemerköy Power Plant.

The fire spread to the power plant despite 10 meter wide trenches dug to protect the plant.

Last night, Milas Mayor Muhammet Tokat posted a video showing that the flames have spread to the thermal power plant. Mayor Tokat has briefly tweeted, "The flames have entered the Thermal Plant... The plant is now being completely evacuated and sirens are wailing."

Muğla in the country's southwest and Antalya in the south have been the hardest hit regions in the wildfires that have been going on across the country since July 28.

While the government says 152 of the 163 wildfires have been contained or extinguished, fires are still blazing in Antalya and Muğla with thousands of hectares razed.

The Kemerköy plant was among the 13 coal-fired plants whose operations were suspended on January 1, 2020, due to non-compliance with environmental regulations. The plant later resumed operations with a "temporary operation document."

According to a report released by the Climate Association on June 4, the 13 plants continued operations without doing the required investments for environmental protection, such as installation of filters and waste management.

Alevler Termik Santrale girdi... Santral şu an tamamen boşaltılıyor ve şimdi sirenler çalıyor... pic.twitter.com/pWBn4bmQPh

— Av. Muhammet Tokat (@MuhammetTokat48) August 4, 2021

(AÖ/VK)