Turkey battles wildfires for 6th day, EU to send planes

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By MEHMET GUZEL and SUZAN FRASER

COKERTME, Turkey (AP) — Firefighters were battling to control blazes that tore through forests near Turkey’s beach destinations for the sixth day running on Monday, as water-carrying planes from the European Union prepared to join the containment efforts.

The fires burning in parched conditions and strong winds since Wednesday have left eight people dead and forced residents and tourists to flee vacation resorts in boats. Many villagers lost homes and farm animals while a thick yellow haze hung in the air in the affected regions.

Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli said late Sunday that 119 fires that broke out in 32 provinces since Wednesday have been extinguished. Crews were still tacking seven fires in the coastal provinces of Antalya and Mugla that are popular tourist areas, and in Tunceli, southeast Turkey.

The EU announced Sunday it had helped mobilize one firefighting Canadair plane from Croatia and two from Spain to help Turkey. Planes sent from Ukraine, Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran have also been fighting the blazes. The planes from Spain would arrive on Tuesday while the one from Croatia was expected join the efforts later on Monday, an EU official said.



A man runs, in the fire-devastating Sirtkoy village, near Manavgat, Antalya, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021. More than 100 wildfires have been brought under control in Turkey, according to officials. The forestry minister tweeted that five fires are continuing in the tourist destinations of Antalya and Mugla. (AP Photo)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/europe-middle-east-fires-turkey-wildfires-78612666dbdef515a22a68b1df2dccb5

[secondwind]

1. OMG, seems like the world is on fire..... these poor people...

[Richard D]

2. I've spent a good amount of time in that area

This is really heartbreaking. It's such a beautiful part of the world. Lots of small villages, ancient olive trees, some archeological sites that date back thousands of years, and wonderfully friendly people. These fires are possibly being set intentionally as well. Many want to hyper-develop that area.