57 forest fires across Turkey under control: Officials

A massive forest fire in Turkey’s Mediterranean coastal city of Antalya has killed three people.

Authorities in the affected regions continue their efforts to extinguish the flames along with damage assessments. As of Friday, 57 forest fires were put under control.

As being reported, the fires first emerged across a sparsely populated region about 75 kilometres (45 miles) east of Antalya — a resort especially popular with Russian and other eastern European tourists.

The forest fires erupted over the last few days in the southern provinces of Mersin, Osmaniye, Adana, Antalya, and Kahramanmaras. Blazes also broke out in the southwestern province of Mugla and central provinces of Kirikkale and Kayseri.

Turkey has managed to bring at least 57 of the forest fires raging across the country under control, a senior official said on Friday.

Efforts to put out the flames continue with 4,000 personnel, three planes, nine unmanned aerial vehicles, one unmanned helicopter, 38 helicopters, 55 heavy-duty vehicles, 680 water tenders, and one water tank, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli said while briefing a joint news conference in the Mediterranean coastal city of Antalya.

The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) in a statement issued on Thursday said that three people lost their lives and 138 others were affected by the wildfires in Manavgat district, including one who was seriously injured.

Many homes, workplaces, barns, farmland, greenhouses, and vehicles were damaged due to the blaze, it said, adding a dozen teams are currently conducting a damage assessment.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the government is mobilizing all means to control and put out the fires.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in a tweet said that Pakistan shares our condolences and support to the government of Turkey and to our Turkish brothers and sisters over the loss of lives and property as a result of deadly forest fires.

Meanwhile, #PrayforTurkey continues to trend on social media.