Turkey is ablaze! Minister Yumaklı provides the latest update

Forest fires breaking out one after another in forests across Turkey have alarmed everyone. Some fires lasted for days, while others were extinguished in a short time. Fanned by winds effective in many provinces, the fires spread rapidly, turning thousands of trees to ash.

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı announced the latest situation regarding the forest fires. Yumaklı stated, "The fires in İzmir Seferihisar, İzmir Menderes, Manisa Akhisar, Manisa Kula, Manisa Saruhanlı, and Bilecik Vezirhan have been completely brought under control. In Hatay Antakya and Manisa Ahmetli, the situation is largely under control."

Reporting that cooling efforts are continuing in the areas where the fire has been brought under control, Yumaklı thanked the teams involved in the fight against the fires.

Here is the latest situation regarding forest fires by province...

HATAY

The forest fire that started two days ago in the Antakya district of Hatay has been partially brought under control. While the neighborhoods damaged by the fire were filmed from the air, it was seen that many trees had turned to ash. 240 households were evacuated, and 2,500 people were placed in student dormitories.

The forest fire that broke out in the Karaali neighborhood of Hatay's central Antakya district has been partially brought under control through the intensive efforts of the teams. Aerial and ground intervention continues for the fire, which started two days ago and spread to surrounding neighborhoods due to strong winds. While cooling efforts by the teams continue in the areas affected by the fire, the damaged regions were filmed by drone.

In the footage recorded from the air, the proximity of the fire to residential areas and the fact that many trees were completely burned and turned to ash drew attention. The flames, which reached the Oğlakören, Dikmece, Gülderen, Üçgedik, and Alahan neighborhoods in addition to Karaali, caused serious destruction over a wide area.

240 HOUSEHOLDS EVACUATED

Due to the fire, 240 households were evacuated as a precaution, and approximately 2,500 people were placed in student dormitories. 8 aircraft, 12 helicopters, over 1,000 ground vehicles, and approximately 2,700 personnel are working to intervene in the fire. Intensive measures have been taken in the affected regions for the safety of both citizens and teams.

In the areas where cooling efforts are ongoing, teams are keeping watch to prevent re-ignition. While the exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined, officials announced that the investigation into the matter is continuing. Citizens in the region are waiting for it to be completely extinguished as soon as possible and for damage assessment work to begin.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry stated that damage assessments will be carried out regarding the residential areas and agricultural lands affected by the fire, and agricultural support will be provided if necessary. While a state of alert continues across Hatay against possible new fires, citizens were called upon not to let their guard down.

BİLECİK

The fire in Bilecik, which started yesterday and spread rapidly due to the wind, resulting in the evacuation of the Kuyubaşı and Örenköy villages as a precaution, has been brought under control.

When the forest fire that broke out yesterday afternoon in the Zobran village of the Vezirhan town in Bilecik grew due to the effect of the wind, 25 citizens and 35 small livestock in Kuyubaşı village, and 90 citizens as well as 60 small livestock and 40 cattle in Örenköy were evacuated from the settlements. While the flames were brought under control in the early hours of the morning, cooling efforts are continuing. The region is being heavily blockaded both from the air and on the ground, and watch is being kept to ensure the flames do not break out again.

On the other hand, citizens living in the 2 villages returned to their homes in a controlled manner today.