Turkey wildlife rages on: 3 dead, 58 hospitalized and hundreds evacuated

At least 3 people died and dozens more were hospitalised in sourn Turkey as strong winds fanned wildfire in forest area near Manavgat, Mediterranean coastal town in south of country. 122 people h been impacted by fires and that 58 were receiving treatment, disaster management unit, AF informed. Turkish authorities have also evacuated homes in four neighborhoods on July 28, Wednesday as wildfire raged through forest in east of resort country of Antalya, and nearby villages.

Rescue missions

Among three de, one of m was an 82-year-old man who was discovered during evacuation of Kepezbeleni district some 16km norast of Manavgat, Agriculture Minister Bekir Pakdemirli told local media on Thursday. Two ors were found de in Degirmenli district of Antalya, some 20 km (12.5 miles) east of Manavgat, he ded. Talking about evacuation and rescue missions, Pakdemirli informed, patients from service state Hospital in Manavgat were being evacuated to anor hospital as a precaution. ditionally, a group of 10 people was rescued after being stranded on a boat at nearby Oymapinar dam.

rescue missions continued as country's disaster management unit, AF, me efforts to douse raging flames. According to wear department, dry wear was fuelled by strong winds, which has me it difficult to contain fire. As many as  19 helicopters, a firefighting plane, a drone, some 250 vehicles, and 960 personnel are a part of efforts to control blaze in two jacent forests in sourn Turkey. Meanwhile, Turkey's Red Crescent sent staff and food supplies to region.

"Houses located in areas that could be impacted by fire have been evacuated. Several homes, offices, farms, agricultural fields, greenhouses, and vehicles have been damaged by fire," AF said in a statement.

Authorities have evacuated around 18 villages and districts in Antalya that were affected by plumes of smoke that billowed out of burning landscape. About 16 more villages were evacuated in neighbouring provinces of ana and Mersin. AF has also me incessant efforts to extinguish two separate wildfires, Pakdemirli said. Local media brocasted footage that showed charred residential buildings and people escaping smoke and burnt landmass while firefighters backed by helicopters struggled to extinguish wildfires.

Summer heat causes frequent wildfires

Turkey's sourn Mediterranean coast is a popular destination for both local and foreign tourists. It is known for its scorching summer heat, which often causes wildfires. Turkish officials have said latest fires are biggest to date among 41 wildfires in 13 of Turkey's 81 provinces since Tuesday. current wildlife has blazed since Tuesday including ones at Osmaniye and Kayseri.

(Image input: @OguzzKayaaOK/Twitter)