Fire erupts in Aegean province, halts interprovincial traffic

MANİSA - Doğan News Agency

A forest fire broke out in the Sabuncubeli region of Manisa around 2:30 p.m. May 29. DHA photo

A forest fire broke out in the Sabuncubeli region of Manisa around 2:30 p.m. today, stopping traffic on the interprovincial road between the Aegean provinces of İzmir and Manisa.

The fire spread to the pinewood forest in the region because of the strong southwesterly wind, which has reached speeds up to 40 kilometers per hour.

The fire has not been brought under control yet, and regional Forestry Department teams are struggling to put out the fire despite the strong wind and low humidity strengthening the blaze.

The fire has spread to both sides of the road.

Helicopters and extinguishing planes cannot be used to fight the fire because of the wind.

Bodrum also hit by fire

Heavy wind also provoked forest fires in six different locations in the touristic Bodrum district of the Aegean province of Muğla.

Several boats in Bodrum that were caught by the storm on the sea narrowly avoided sinking.