Forest fires raging across Turkey’s 4 eastern provinces: No response

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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While forest fires have been raging across Turkey's eastern provinces of Dersim, Bingöl, Bitlis and Şırnak for days, there is only aerial response with helicopters in Bingöl. As there is no response to the fires in some areas, the fires in these four provinces are spreading.

The size of the area razed by fires is still not known. Dozens of animals have lost their lives as a result of the fires. As can be seen in the below social media post from Dersim's Munzur, the animals that are still alive are trying to survive the fires by escaping from the forests.

Munzur'un dağ keçileri yangından kaçıyor. "Yangın" deyip geçmemek gerektiğini bu yaz acı şekilde öğrendik. Binlerce, on binlerce can bu felaketten kurtulamıyor... pic.twitter.com/0YoMGpKk4v

— Oğul Tuna (@sogultuna) August 31, 2021

Mezopotamya Agency (MA) has shared the following information about the latest situation in these provinces amid forest fires:

Fires in three different spots in Dersim

Turkey's eastern province of Dersim has been ravaged by forest fires for the 15th day as of today (August 31). There are fires in three different spots in the province. The fire that broke out after a military operation in the rural area of Hozat on August 17 has spread as far as Ovacık.

In the first days of the fire, the fire brigade teams of the Dersim Municipality, the NGOs in the province and citizens were prevented from responding to the fire. Following the reactions against this failure to intervene in the fires, the response to the fire started 13 days later.

* Photo: Dersim (Tunceli) Municipality

While the fire in Hozat district has not yet been extinguished, the forest fires that broke out in Fırtına Veli Çeşmesi in Munzur Valley and in Roj Stream in Pülümür Valley are also still continuing. Only the fire brigade teams of the Dersim Municipality and citizens are responding to the fires; as a result of the winds, the flames have spread to a wide area.

There has reportedly been no response to the fire that broke out in Pülümür Valley on August 29. There is smoke in the area which is reportedly hit by a fire that broke out after the area was bombed by soldiers.

Munzur Vadisi Fırtına Veli Bölgesi, Kutuderesi ve Bingöl Yayladere de yangınlar devam ediyor. Bizler gönüllü dostlarımız, profesyonel ekipler yangınlarla mücadeleye etmeye sonuna kadar devam edeceğiz. pic.twitter.com/TzW3jOlHiP

— Fatih Mehmet Maçoğlu (@FatihMacoglu) August 30, 2021

Fire in Bingöl

In the Xarsak hamlet of Conag village in Bingöl's Yayladere, the forest fire that broke out on August 29 has not yet been contained.

While the fire allegedly broke out due to a high-tension line, there was a belated response to the fire as it broke out in the mountains. As a result, it was the citizens who first intervened in the fire that spread to a wide area. Yesterday evening (August 30), helicopters also joined the firefighting efforts that had so far been continuing from the land. Three military helicopters sent to the area responded to fire. However, they left the scene an hour later before the fire had yet been extinguished.

Citizens criticized the helicopters' departure and continued responding to the fire by their own means. The fire kept raging all night long and spread to a wide area due to the wind. Firefighting efforts continued in the morning. A helicopter has joined the firefighting efforts. However, there is still smoke in the region where the fire has not yet been taken under control.

Fire in Bitlis

In Bitlis, a forest fire broke out in Ava Weqfê (Buzlupınar Service Area) at around 1 a.m. yesterday. The fire has not yet been contained. As the teams responding to the fire from the land fell short of putting out the fire, the flames have spread to a large area. The fire has been raging for two days and most of the forestland has been razed despite the efforts.

While an explosion occurred at the high-tension line due to the fire, the military base in the area has started to be evacuated.

Joining the firefighting efforts, a worker from the Regional Directorate of Forestry has said that they have fallen short of responding to the fire. Noting that there is an urgent need for an aerial response to the fire, s/he has urged the citizens to participate in the firefighting efforts.

Ömer Barin, the owner of the Buzlupınar Service Area, has indicated that they responded to the fire by their own means as of yesterday evening and partially took the fire under control; however, the fire grew at dawn. Barin has urged urgent support due to insufficient response.

Fire in Şırnak

There are still fires in two spots in Şırnak. In the Qurta Xanê area in Best region, a fire was reportedly started by soldiers who launched an operation on August 29. While there is no response to the fire, the citizens who went there to put out the fire were prevented by soldiers. As a reason for this prevention, it was indicated that the area was a "forbidden zone."

The fire that broke out in the Girêbestkê area is also still ongoing.

The fire that broke out in the Mêhrîna village in Besta region as a result of a helicopter's bombing 5 days ago has reportedly died out by itself. (TP/SD)