Minister: Southwestern Turkey Wildfire Under Control

Date: 15 July 2022 - 22:00

News ID: ۱۰۴۷۲۶

ISTANBUL (AP) – A forest fire in Turkey’s southwestern Datca peninsula has been brought under control, a government minister says, with thousands of people having been temporarily evacuated from the area. The fire was fanned by strong winds that spread to residential areas overnight, with seven aircraft and 14 helicopters fighting the blaze, Forestry Minister Vahit Kirisci said. “The fire in Datca is under control. Cooling efforts continue,” he said, adding that investigations showed the fire broke out at an electrical transformer around noon on Wednesday. Turkey’s Disaster Management Authority said some 450 houses and 3,530 people were evacuated as fires reached residential areas in sparsely populated parts of the peninsula.