Nineteen forest fires erupt in a day in Turkey's south, west

Çanakkale (Photos: AA)

Nineteen forest fires broke out within 24 hours in the southern provinces of Hatay and Mersin, and Çanakkale in the country's northwest.

As dawn breaks, aerial response has resumed in an effort to combat the ongoing fires, which have resulted in the destruction of homes and the precautionary evacuation of certain villages.

Addressing the recent spate of forest fires, Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç said 16 of the fires have been contained. He also provided an update on the investigations into the fires over the past week, saying that two among the 17 identified suspects had been detained. The investigations concern the nine forest fires erupted between July 10 and 19, he said.

Belen, Hatay

In Çanakkale's Kızılkeçili village, a forest fire that initially started as a grass fire in two separate locations has now spread to the neighboring villages of Kemel and Yukarı Okçular. Efforts to contain the fire are ongoing as authorities work to combat the blaze.

Meanwhile, in Hatay's Belen district, a fire that reportedly originated from a fire set by two individuals clearing reed beds in their garden continues to rage.

Strong winds have fueled the rapid expansion of the fire, leading to the evacuation of residents in Müftüler, Soğukoluk, and Benlidere. Preliminary assessments indicate that the fire has consumed seven houses and caused damage to four vehicles.

Authorities have detained two individuals suspected of starting the fires, and legal proceedings are currently underway.

Hatay, a city still recovering from the devastating earthquakes in February, is now grappling with both forest fires and ongoing water issues.

Gülnar, Mersin

Similarly, in Mersin, a forest fire broke out in the Kavakoluğu neighborhood around 6:00 p.m. yesterday. The fire rapidly intensified due to strong winds, posing a threat to residential areas.

As a precautionary measure, 25 houses in the vicinity were evacuated, unfortunately resulting in the loss of five homes.

Throughout the night, firefighting efforts continued with the aid of night vision helicopters. With the break of dawn, additional aircraft and helicopters joined the firefighting operations.

Both ground and aerial teams continuethe efforts to extinguish the flames, while local residents have also extended their support to the firefighting crews. (VK)