Holidaymakers have been told they ‘may have to move’ as serious fires hit a popular tourist hotspot. The Foreign Office has updated its advice on dealing with extreme temperatures in the region as the authorities acted to battle serious blazes.
Raging fires have spread across southeastern Turkey over the last week, with Brits warned they might have to relocate. In the Diyarbakir and Mardi provinces helicopters were today being used to drop water on wildfires.
Forest fires are being tackled by air and land intervention in Selcuk district of Izmir, Turkey. The aerial intervention, which was suspended after dark yesterday evening, resumed with the first light of the day today (Sunday June 30) with helicopters and aeroplanes. In order to extinguish the fire, 3 night vision helicopters took part in the extinguishing efforts throughout the night. Hundreds of animals have died in the fire, which began on Thursday and raged into Friday.
Temperatures in much of Turkey have reached over 40C (104F) in the past week, leaving forest and scrubland tinder-dry. An investigation into the cause of the latest blaze is underway.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya blamed it on “stubble burning”, the practice of intentionally setting fire to crop residue. The Foreign Office said that people should read its advice on what to do in an emergency which can be seen here.
It said: “Wildfires are dangerous and unpredictable. They can start easily and spread quickly, particularly during times of extreme heat. Causing a forest fire can be a criminal offence, even if unintentional. You should extinguish cigarette ends properly, , not leave empty bottles behind, follow local rules and signs when lighting barbecues; often barbecues are only allowed in designated areas on a concrete base, and always douse barbecues before leaving.”
It warns of extreme temperatures hitting Turkey over the summer months with frequent wildfires. It said: “You could get a fine or prison sentence for lighting a fire of any kind or discarding cigarettes in risk areas such as woodland. Barbecues are prohibited in these areas.
“If there is a wildfire in your area, local authorities may tell you to leave your accommodation. Follow the directions of local authorities. If you see a wildfire, call emergency services on 112.”
Turkey has witnessed 74 wildfires this year, destroying around 31,900 acres of land, according to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS).