People helped fight the forest fire that broke out in Antalya, Turkey.
Suleyman Elsin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
On Monday, near the drought-stricken Turkey’s southern coastal resort, firefighters used planes and helicopters, as well as locals carrying buckets, to fight the raging wildfire for the sixth day. The government faced new criticism as it handled the disaster.
Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli said that the seven fires are still burning due to temperatures exceeding 40°C, strong winds and low humidity.
As the ground and air firefighting operations continued on August 2, 2021, firefighters were fighting a forest fire that broke out in the Manavga District of Antalya, Turkey. (Photo courtesy of Suleyman Elcin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Weather maps show that areas affected by the fire have suffered severe droughts in recent months.
Drone footage taken by Reuters showed that on the gray hillside near the Marmaris resort, the fire made the buildings smoke and the tree trunks turned black.
Although 16 planes and 51 helicopters extinguished the fire in large areas of southwestern Turkey, villagers carried water tanks on the mountains near Marmaris to put out the fire. They said the government did not take sufficient measures to help them.
As the ground and air firefighting operations continued on August 2, 2021, firefighters were fighting a forest fire that broke out in the Manavga District of Antalya, Turkey. (Photo courtesy of Suleyman Elcin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
“Our whole village is here, from locals to others. We didn’t run away or anything, so the government must see this and can’t run away. It must send some planes here,” a person named Gulhan ‘S lady told Reuters.
Engin Ozkoc, a senior figure in the main opposition party CHP, called on Pakdemirli to resign because he was not fully prepared.
“You don’t deserve that department. You didn’t foresee this and bought a firefighting aircraft,” he said, criticizing the amount of air resources available.
The European Union said it helped mobilize three firefighting aircraft on Sunday. A Croatian and two Spaniards joined teams from Russia, Iran, Ukraine and Azerbaijan.
As the ground and air firefighting operations continued on August 2, 2021, firefighters were fighting a forest fire that broke out in the Manavga District of Antalya, Turkey. (Photo courtesy of Suleyman Elcin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Fahrettin Altun, the communications director of President Tayyip Erdogan, rejected criticism of the government’s handling of the fire and condemned social media activities calling for foreign help.
“Our Turkey is very strong. Our country stands tall,” Alton said on Twitter, describing most of the information about the fire on social media as “fake news.” “All our losses will be compensated.”
Eight people were killed in the wildfire, but no more casualties were reported on Monday.
As the ground and air firefighting operations continued on August 2, 2021, firefighters were fighting a forest fire that broke out in the Manavga District of Antalya, Turkey. (Photo courtesy of Suleyman Elcin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Since Wednesday, thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes and some tourists have left the hotel, although Tourism Minister Mohamed Esoy said holidaymakers returned within a few hours.
After the Covid-19 pandemic, wildfires are another blow to Turkish tourism.
Bulent Bulbuloglu, head of the South Aegean Hoteliers Association, stated that 10% of bookings in Bodrum and Marmaris have been cancelled. Others shortened the visit time.
