Fires devour land in western Turkey

İZMİR/MUĞLA/ANTALYA

Firefighters have contained a fire that erupted in forestland in Turkey’s Aegean province of İzmir on June 30.

The fire broke out in maquis shrubland north of the Çandarlı neighborhood, burning up an area of 10 hectares.

Firefighters used five helicopters and 17 water tenders to battle the flames, which spread due to windy conditions, said Dikili Mayor Adil Kırgöz.

No casualties were reported, and the cause of the fire would be investigated, he said.

Another fire erupted in İzmir’s Menderes district at around 10 p.m. on June 30. The blaze, thought to be caused by faulty electric wires, was close to the hotels in the Özdere neighborhood. Two five-star hotels were evacuated immediately.

The fire was contained with the efforts of 150 firefighters in two hours, the governor’s office in Menderes said.

Another fire erupted in the Mediterranean province of Antalya’s Serik district, consuming seven hectares of olive and fruit trees, according to a statement by Serik Governor Haluk Şimşek in the early hours of July 1.

Meanwhile, the governor’s office in the southwestern province of Muğla said that the fire which burned up an area of 20 hectares of maquis shrubland on June 29 was caused by electric wires in a transformer near the shore of Palamutbükü.