Murat Kurum announces the toll of the fires

Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum has announced the major destruction caused by the forest fires in Turkey. Minister Kurum provided information regarding the devastation experienced in the provinces affected by the fires. He reported that as a result of the fires in the provinces of Bursa, Karabük, Sakarya, Bilecik, Uşak, and Antalya, 68 residences and 104 independent units have sustained heavy damage.

In his statement, Minister Kurum emphasized that the fires have caused significant damage and that, in addition to residences, independent units have also been seriously affected. It was noted that the destruction in the fire-stricken regions has negatively impacted the lives and economic order of the people in these provinces.

Minister Kurum's statement is as follows:

"Our damage assessment teams are continuing their work in areas where the fires have been brought under control.

We have also begun our damage assessment efforts in the regions of our Bursa where the flames have been brought under control.

In the first stage, we have determined that 1 social facility, 2 residences, and 2 warehouses are heavily damaged in the Kestel and Gürsu districts.

In Karabük 59,

In Sakarya 12,

In Bilecik 16,

In Uşak 9,

In Antalya 3, we have determined that a total of 104 independent units, 68 of which are residences, are heavily damaged or destroyed.

Get well soon to all our citizens.

Once our work is completed, we will heal the wounds without wasting any time."

Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya announced that 3 people have been arrested and a total of 7 people have been detained in the investigation regarding the fires.

"Regarding the forest fires that occurred between July 22-27, 2025, by our Gendarmerie;

7 suspects were detained. 3 of them were arrested; judicial control decisions were issued for 4 of them.

In the Kocatöngel neighborhood of Sakarya's Hendek district; it was determined that the forest fire, which started on July 22 and was extinguished on the same day, occurred as a result of a fire lit for the purpose of clearing a field spreading to the forest area. A judicial control decision was issued for the suspects named M.Ç. and N.O.

In the Boztepe neighborhood of Sakarya's Akyazı district; it was determined that the forest fire, which started on July 22 and was extinguished on the same day, occurred because a fire spread to the forest area while the suspect named A.B. was trying to burn his old mattress. The suspect was arrested.

In the Kışla village of Karabük-Ovacık; a judicial control decision was issued for the suspect named B.K., who was determined to be in the region where the forest fire, which started on July 23 and was extinguished on July 26, broke out.

In the Karaçam neighborhood of Balıkesir-Savaştepe; it was determined that the forest fire, which started on July 25 and was extinguished on the same day, occurred due to a fire lit for cleaning purposes at a business spreading to the forest area. In this context, the suspects named N.A., H.S., and M.S., who were determined to be in the region where the fire broke out, were detained. 2 of them were arrested, and a judicial control decision was issued for 1 of them.

It is of great importance that our citizens are much more cautious and take precautions to protect our forests, especially on hot summer days.

May God protect our country and our nation from all kinds of disasters."

News Source: 12punto