Forest blaze in Turkey largely under control: governor

One person has died and another is missing in the blaze in Antalya province, which has destroyed 60 houses, dozens of farming buildings and livestock.

It has also endangered historical sites in the hills above the baking hot Mediterranean coastline, including the ancient Greek amphitheatre in Aspendos, 37 km (23 miles) from the coastal resort of Side.Â

More than 2,000 people have been involved in tackling the fire, now in its fourth day, backed up by more than a dozen aircraft which have sought to douse the flames engulfing the region's woodland.

"Thanks to the self-sacrificing work of our forestry authorities the fire has generally speaking being brought under control, (although) it is still continuing," Antalya Governor Alaaddin Yuksel told reporters.

"This fire has been the most influential one we have seen at Anatolian lands in recent years," Yuksel said, adding fires were still continuing in an area around the village of Karabucak.

In nearby Sagirin where the fire continued, a few kilometers (miles) from Aspendos, fire-fighters directed powerful hose jets of water at the flames. Hot weather and little rain has made the woodland vulnerable to outbreaks of fire.

Aircraft continued to tackle the blaze from above despite thick clouds of smoke which obscured the hillsides. A bulldozer cut a path through woodland nearby to prevent the fire from spreading.

HAMPERED BY WINDS

Mustafa Kurtulmuslu, deputy general manager of Turkey's forestry directorate, said earlier that strong winds were hampering fire-fighting efforts.

"The weather was in our favor last night but the wind flared up again this morning. Despite this we will have the fire totally under control today," he said.

The winds were expected to subside by early evening, when humidity levels were also forecasted to rise.

Six villages were evacuated as a result of the blaze in the Manavgat and Serik districts. Officials have said the state will pay compensation for those affected by the fire.

Environment and Forestry Minister Veysel Eroglu said on Saturday officials thought the blaze was sparked by the snapping of power lines. However, state power officials said this was not possible, Reuters quoted broadcaster CNNTurk.

 

Antalya is home to some of Turkey’s richest historical sites and is the country’s primary tourist destination, attracting about seven million foreigners each year.

 

Forest fires are common in Turkey as well as other Mediterranean countries during hot and arid summer months, sparked mostly by negligent residents.