Forest fires continue to grip Turkey: Minister Yumaklı provides update on the situation in the region

Efforts to combat forest fires that have been ongoing for days in various regions of Turkey continue. Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı evaluated the latest situation and announced that 5 fires in 4 provinces have been extinguished.

However, he noted that the southern Marmara and northern Aegean regions remain among the high-risk areas. Minister Yumaklı emphasized that while there are positive developments in Bursa for now, caution must still be exercised.

INTENSITY OF FLAMES INCREASES IN BURSA

According to a statement from the Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, the intensity of the fire has increased again at 4 locations in the city. Due to the fire that started yesterday evening in the forested area between the Gürsu and Kestel districts, the neighborhoods of Karahıdır, Avdancık, and İğdir were evacuated as a precautionary measure. During the ground intervention that continued throughout the night, civilians also joined the firefighting efforts with their own means. In the early hours of the morning, helicopters also joined the aerial firefighting efforts.

COMPREHENSIVE INTERVENTION IN FIRES

As the fire in Karabük enters its 4th day, the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), in a statement regarding the fires in Bursa, Antalya, Uşak, Mersin, and Osmaniye, reported that a total of 5,400 personnel, 119 aircraft, and 1,537 land vehicles are responding to the flames.

JUDICIAL PROCESSES CONTINUE

Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç announced that judicial investigations into the forest fires are ongoing in 33 provinces and that proceedings have been initiated against 97 suspects so far. Minister Tunç stated that 21 people have been arrested and 47 people have been released under judicial control.

News Source: 12punto