Blazing Wildfire in Turkey That Almost Wiped Out Forest Finally Under Control

According to local officials in a Turkish town in the south, forest fires that erupted in two areas early Monday have been brought under control.

When flames flared in two portions of a forest in Dörtyol, a town in the southern Turkish province of Hatay, around one hour after midnight, villagers called the firefighters.

Immediate Respond

Local forestry services and Hatay municipality firemen responded to the spot. Strong winds impeded their efforts to put out the fire. Winds also hampered efforts to put out the fire using aircraft or helicopters.

The firefighters were assisted by residents living near the woodland. The cause of the fire is yet unknown. Occasionally, flames erupt in the region throughout the summer, the peak season for wildfires.

Also Read: UN Warns of Catastrophic Effects as Wildfires Continue to Worsen Globally

Turkish Wildfires

Wildfires are threatening Turkey's evergreen countryside, exacerbated by climate change. Between 2012 and 2021, 226,845 hectares of forest were damaged or burnt across the country, with more than 61 percent of this loss occurring in 2021 alone.

According to the Directorate General of Forestry (OGM), there have been 27,150 forest fires around the country in the last ten years. Fires have become more intense, although not unusual, due to strong winds spreading them and scorching temperatures exacerbating the flames.

Also Read: Statistic Reveals How Big of a Damage Wildfires Caused in 2021

Last Year's Fire

(Photo : Image from Yıldız Yazıcıoğlu/VOA)

Though last year may appear to be the worst in terms of the extent of the woods destroyed by fires, the largest number of flames, 3,755, occurred in 2013, one year before the country had its fewest fires in a decade, with 2,149.

There were 2,793 forest fires recorded last year. The majority of them, like in the past, took place during the summer months. Antalya and Muğla, two southern provinces on the Mediterranean Sea's coasts, were home to most of the massive flames.

At least eight persons were killed in the horrific fires. The fire generated a countrywide effort to assist the burned-out communities and a discussion over the country's response to such large fires.

Also Read: Hazardous Forest Fires Erupted Around Chernobyl Nuclear Plant

Forest Fires All Over

Forest fires erupted in more than 500 areas over two provinces, with the largest lasting 15 days, forcing the evacuation of communities in Manavgat, Antalya's worst-affected district, and Bodrum and Marmaris, two famous tourist spots in Muğla province.

Also Read: Rare Early-Year Wildfire Burned Through 1,500 Acres of Land in California

Bracing Up

As summer comes, Turkey braces for another season of wildfires, some of which are caused by terrorist organizations, but most of which are caused by human mistakes, such as improperly dumped combustible materials. This year, 55 helicopters and 20 airplanes have been allocated for dumping water on burning woods, while 15,000 volunteers and professional personnel are ready to go into the field. The government also uses drones to monitor woods around the clock to respond to wildfires faster.