Military operations hamper response to wildfires in Dersim

Photo: MA

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

Wildfires in Hozat, Dersim in southeastern Turkey have been going on for six days.

Hozat Mayor Seyfi Gedik told bianet that they were not able to respond to the fires because entrances in the fire zone are prohibited due to ongoing military operations.

"I tried to go to the fire zone but my entrance was not allowed due to security reasons," he said. "Firefighting vehicles and earthmovers can't enter the area. I spoke with Mr. governor, who told me that the operation is underway and civilians' entrance is not allowed at this stage. I'm going to talk to him again and try to enter the area."

Citing information from villages near the fire area, the mayor said the fire is growing every day.

The fire started in Koçeri hamlet in Kurukaymak village and is approaching Danzik village, he said. The size of the burned area is not yet clear, he added.

There are no settlements in the fire area, which was forcibly evacuated during the conflict in the 1990s and is currently declared a "special security zone," said Geyik. Many villages were systematically evacuated in the Kurdish-majority regions in the 1990s.

The Federation of Sersim Associations (DEDEF) shared a video of the fire on its Twitter accounts and said, "The fire in Hozat has been continuing for days! Many settlements are filled with smoke. Say 'stop' to the forest fire in Dersim!"

Hozat'taki yangın günlerdir sürüyor!

Ovacık ve Hozat'taki birçok yerleşim alanı duman altında.

DERSİM'DE ORMAN YANGININA DUR DE!@FatihMacoglu @PolatSaroglu @onlu_alican @AlihaydarBen62 @dersimkultder pic.twitter.com/HxvE7vYSZt

— DEDEF (@Dersim_DEDEF) August 23, 2021

(KÖ/VK)