Turkey: "Mostly" under control of wildfires in southwestern region

Istanbul, Sept 7 (KUNA) -- Turkey’s General Directorate of Forestry announced on Monday that it had “largely” brought under control the wildfires that spread over the past hours in the provinces of Mugla and Antalya in the southwest of the country. In a post on the social media platform X, the directorate said, “We have largely contained the fire in the Menteşe district of Mugla following intensive aerial and ground operations. We continue our vigorous efforts by air and land to contain the blazes burning in Menteşe as well as in Sereke, Antalya.” The statement added that firefighting efforts in the Bozova area of the neighboring province of Burdur, which borders Antalya and Mugla, were also underway through aerial and ground operations. A fire broke out yesterday, Sunday, in the forested area of the town of Menteşe in Mugla province, southwestern Turkey. Fueled by strong winds in the region, the blaze quickly spread without a known cause to the Armutluk neighborhood in the neighboring town of Oludeniz, adjacent to Menteşe. According to the Turkish Anadolu Agency, 7 aircraft, 13 helicopters, 32 fire trucks, 7 bulldozers, 62 water tankers, 12 construction machines, and 232 personnel are participating in the extinguishing efforts, while 11 ambulances support evacuation operations. (End) T.A. / M.A.H.A.