Forest fire in Antalya:Efforts to control blaze
In Antalya ,Göynük a forest fire broke out at 21:08 in an area of the cemetery region, spreading to a wide area due to the effect of the wind. Throughout the night, more than 50 fire trucks, numerous water tankers, first intervention vehicles, and over 300 firefighting teams worked to extinguish the fire in the densely wooded area of the forest.
- Turkey
- Published Date: 04:25 | 25 July 2023
- Modified Date: 04:30 | 25 July 2023
Six people affected by the smoke were taken to the hospital for treatment. As a precautionary measure, 10 residences near the fire zone were evacuated, and out of 14 patients at the Kemer State Hospital, 12 were discharged and sent home, while 2 patients were transferred to other hospitals.
Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy visited the fire zone to monitor the operations on-site. Deputy Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry Veysel Tiryaki and Interior Münir Karaloğlu, along with Antalya Governor Ersin Yazıcı, also followed the operations in the region throughout the night. Deputy Minister Karaloğlu stated that they are currently going through a risky period with low humidity and high temperatures regarding fires, and they have brought the fires in different provinces under control, except for the ongoing fire in Göynük.
He further explained that the fire does not pose a threat to tourism facilities in Kemer, and tourists are continuing their holidays peacefully. As a precaution, the Kemer State Hospital, which is close to the fire zone, was evacuated. At the moment, the situation does not pose a serious risk, but necessary precautions were taken.
There was also a risk with a gas depot in the area, but that was also evacuated by AFAD. He mentioned that accessing the area from the ground is challenging, and they are trying to make progress by clearing the path with bulldozers. The region is known for its difficult terrain, and all the resources of the state are currently available. Tomorrow, both Turkish Armed Forces and Gendarmerie will also have aerial vehicles in the area to assist with the firefighting efforts.
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı shared that 11 aircraft, 22 helicopters, 62 fire trucks, and 512 personnel have been sent to the scene, and they have been relentlessly fighting the fire from the air and on the ground.
Territorial teams are opening alternative routes with construction equipment within the forest due to the dense trees, providing support for the firefighting efforts. They are taking precautions at possible points of spread and creating intervention points in case the flames spread.
Police and gendarmerie teams took measures at the entry and exit points of the forest and on the Kemer-Kumluca road. Throughout the night, drones have been flying over the affected area, providing real-time footage to closely monitor the firefighting efforts.