Neighborhood heads in Manavgat: Measures insufficient, everything burned to the ground

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Forest fires have been raging across Turkey, especially in southern provinces such as Antalya and Muğla, since July 28. Antalya's Manavgat is one of these places where firefighting efforts are ongoing.

The people of Manavgat district are fighting the flames; in the meanwhile, they are trying to pick up the pieces. In this process, the village and neighborhood heads are helping out the people in extinguishing the fires and helping the ones who have been negatively affected by the fires.

Let's listen to the neighborhood heads who are keeping watch in the forests and joining the firefighting efforts in person:

'They should help consciously'

Şelale Neighborhood Head Hasan Öz: "There is a fire between the Gündoğmuş village and Taşağıl. There is also a fire between Kızıldağ and Başkonak. There is a fire in Alanya Gündoğmuş. There is no fire in our village for the time being. There are efforts to cool off the fire.

"We have no losses of life or property. I am grateful that everyone has sent aid. There is so much food. There are all types of aid but they should help consciously. People have sent diapers and baby formula. What are we supposed to do with them? They sent lots of biscuits. Our houses have burned down. We need things like sofas, refrigerators and curtains. There are so many houses. We need household goods."

'Measures are insufficient'

Yukarıpazarcı Neighborhood Head Hasan Özden: "The fires in the villages near the center have died out. There are fires in rural villages. It has not been possible to take them under control.

"There are municipal teams, the sub-governor, the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) teams. People don't sleep. Measures are insufficient. As the firefighting teams are insufficient, people help out in cooperation. Everyone is protecting their own place."

'The danger is not yet over'

Yeşilbağ Neighborhood Head Ahmet Özkul: "Our village is at the border with Sütçüler village. There is a fire 80 kilometers away from there, in the Taşağıl region. There is no fire in our village. It seems distant from us for now, but the danger is not yet over. We have warned people that they should be cautious and they should report it to authorities if there are any suspicious people. We have filled the tanks with water as a precaution."

'Fire was not put out, it died out itself'

Yukarıhisar Neighborhood Head Ali Oğuz: "The fire is not in the center. It is mostly in villages. The fire was not extinguished, it burned out itself. Everywhere has been burned to the ground. The measures are insufficient. Villagers and other neighborhood heads say the same thing."

'If the planes had stayed till the evening...'

Örenşehir Neighborhood Head Ahmet Ali Ballı: "There is a fire 18 kilometers away from our village, in the Gündoğmuş village. There is no fire in our village, but we are making preparations. Everyone is making hard efforts. I don't want the state authorities to resent, but I have heard it from the heads of neighboring villages. A fire broke out somewhere. Planes stayed till 12 in the afternoon, then left. They say if the planes had stayed till the evening, the fire would have been put out."

'We keep watch till the morning'

Sorgun Neighborhood Head İbrahim Etem Şeker: "There is no fire in our village. Measures have been taken. We are keeping watch in forests together with the citizens till the morning."

'Olive trees are in danger'

Taşağıl Neighborhood Head Ali Nail Arseven: "This is like a battlefield. The fire is going towards the highlands. The problem is big. Olive trees are in danger. There are no losses of life or property for now."

'We have saved our neighboring villages'

Tepeköy Neighborhood Head Mustafa Erol: "The fire has not come to our center. Measures have been taken around the village. The forestlands burned. Villagers helped. We helped out by carrying water from water wells to water sprinklers. We carried water with concrete mixers. Our neighboring villages were on fire, we have saved them."

'Citizens are done'

Uzunkale Neighborhood Head Osman Biçer: "There is no fire for now. It was just coming, then it stopped. We are taking measures as villagers, as citizens. Citizens are done. Soldiers and commanders are taking measures. There are no losses of life, but losses of property, albeit a little."

'No living creatures left'

Sevinç Neighborhood Head Seyfettin Eski: "Everything has burned to the ground here. There are losses of property. 29 houses have burned. Cats, dogs... There are no living creatures left."

'It seems hard to put out the fire'

Namaras Neighborhood Head Ömer Şahin: "There is no fire in our neighborhood. The fire is approaching the Kalecik village. We are completing our preparations. It seems hard to put out the fire. The fire is coming towards Güzelbağ. It has not yet come to our village."

'There are no houses left'

Salur Neighborhood Head Cavit Kaya: "The fire was big. There are cooling efforts. Small-scale fires continue. There are no houses left to be used."

'74 houses have burned'

Güzelyalı Neighborhood Head Hasan Sevinç: "The fire has died out in our village. There are no losses of life, but there are losses of property. 74 houses have burned." (NÇ/AÖ/SD)