Fire ravages Turkey: Multiple blazes spark evacuations and detentions
4:31 PM EDT, June 30, 2024
Over 40 fires broke out on Saturday in Turkey. Authorities have not ruled out human factors that may have led to the spread of the fire. Several alleged perpetrators have been detained.
According to the Hurriyet Daily News portal, 16 fires were recorded in forests and rural areas in the western province of Izmir alone on Saturday. Strong wind gusts aided the rapid spreading of the fire in the Selcuk and Menderes districts. The fire affected approximately 1,200 acres of land in the region.
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Ibrahim Yumakli reported that several people have been detained in connection with the fires in the province.
Fire caused by a cigarette?
The most likely cause of the fire in the Cesme district was a discarded cigarette butt. Meanwhile, according to authorities in Menderes, the fire started in a garden area.
On Saturday, 44 fires were recorded in the country, including 30 in rural areas and 14 in forests. The media noted that most of them were quickly brought under control by firefighters. The battle with the fire continued overnight in the Selcuk and Menderes districts.
Due to the fires in the region, guests from two hotels and residents of several homes were evacuated. Animals from a local shelter were also transported to a safer place.
