Forest fires: Lack of response criticized in Şırnak, blazes continue on third day in Antalya

_{Kemer (Photo: AA)}

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A forest fire broke out last night at the foothills of Cudi Mountain in the southeastern city of Şırnak. The fire is still ongoing, and officials are being criticized for not taking effective action against the fire.

Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reported the allegations that there was no response to the fire that broke out near a military outpost, and citizens who wanted to engage in firefighting were also not allowed.

The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) issued a written statement today, criticizing the lack of reponse to the fires: "Those who have declared war on our nature are destroying the ecosystem with systematically recurring forest fires.

"The fire that started in Cûdî and was not allowed to be intervened is a continuation of the hostile policies against the Kurdish people. In the region that is being attempted to be depopulated, measures must be taken against the fire immediately."

Similar criticisms have been made in previous years regarding forest fires in the country's predominantly Kurdish-populated eastern and southeastern regions.

Photo: MA

The Governor's Office of Şırnak On July 15 declared some areas, including the Cudi Mountain region, as a "temporary special security zone" for 15 days. Such decisions are generally taken for military operations in the Kurdish regions, and entry and exit to the relevant areas are restricted.

The "special security zone" status of Şırnak has been continuously extended since the beginning of 2022 with the extension of the decisions taken.

Antalya

In the Kemer district in the southern city of Antalya, a popular holiday destination, the fire that broke out on the evening of July 24 is still ongoing.

In the area where ground transportation is difficult, 10 planes and 27 helicopters have been battling the fire throughout the day, and the efforts of three night-vision helicopters are continuing with the darkness of the night.

Some 73 fire trucks, 7 construction vehicles, and 654 personnel are also responding to the fire from the ground, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Veysel Tiryaki said in his latest statement that the fire has not yet threatened residential areas and tourism spots.

"The fire is still ongoing in a valley where ground transportation is quite difficult. As of this hour, there is no situation threatening residential areas and tourism spots," he said. (TY/VK)