Forest fire in Turkey's Antalya yet to be brought under control

MANAVGAT, Antalya

A fire broke out in the southern province of Antalya’s Manavgat district early July 19 morning. AA photo

A fire that broke out in the southern province of Antalya’s Manavgat district early this morning continues to burn, as firefighters who were deployed to the scene have not yet succeeded in bringing the flames under control.

The cause of the blaze, which began at 1 a.m., was reportedly a lightning strike, Doğan news agency said.

Despite efforts by firefighters, the flames have still not been brought under control, said the deputy manager of Manavgat’s Forest Directorate, Hülya Güney, adding that 10 hectares of woodland were still ablaze.

“A large number of fire brigades, one firefighting aircraft and five helicopters have had difficulty intervening against the fire because of the rocky terrain of the area,” Güney said, adding that four hectares of woodland had already been damaged.