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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A wildfire raged through Turkey’s Canakkale over the past three days, burning thousands of hectares of land and dense trees, leading to the evacuation of locals from nine villages.
The fire that has been raging has so far destroyed a significant number of orchards owned by local villagers in the city, which is located in northwestern Turkey in the Marmara region.
"Around 1,500 hectares of forest have been burned here and there, and we have surrounded this area and it will not go any further," Ibrahim Yamuklu, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry told reporters on Wednesday, adding that forceful winds have made their job difficult, rapidly spreading the fire to nearby areas.
Yamuklu added that as they battle the flames, they have temporarily suspended shipping traffic in both directions along the Dardanelle Strait.
The minister added that they have evacuated at least 1,250 people from the nine villages.
Yagcilar is one of the nine villages where fire has been burning for the past three days despite relentless efforts from the government and locals alike to bring the blaze under control.
"Four to five houses were destroyed in our village," Cemalettin Tezcan, a resident of Yagcilar village said. "Many animals died. Whomever you see, they will tell you that [they saw damages] due to the fire."
Tezcan added that the cause of the fire has remained unknown.
"It has not been identified yet [as to how the fire started]. Some took their sheep to the mountains. Some of their cows were burnt. As you can see, the whole house was burnt," he detailed.
The fire that started near the center of Canakkale soon spread to a length of 25 kilometers. More than 1,500 hectares of forest have reportedly burned.
Citing relevant authorities, Rudaw's Rawin Sterk reported that eight airplanes, 26 helicopters, nearly 300 vehicles, and 2,700 firefighters have been racing against time to control the fire. However, forceful wind has made the work difficult.
The fire has not resulted in any human losses, but 90 people are reportedly affected by the smoke, receiving treatment at hospitals.
Last year, 1,800 forest fires broke out in Turkey and 142,000 hectares of forest were burned. This year, despite the increased awareness and protection, the same threat continues.
The fire that has been raging has so far destroyed a significant number of orchards owned by local villagers in the city, which is located in northwestern Turkey in the Marmara region.
"Around 1,500 hectares of forest have been burned here and there, and we have surrounded this area and it will not go any further," Ibrahim Yamuklu, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry told reporters on Wednesday, adding that forceful winds have made their job difficult, rapidly spreading the fire to nearby areas.
Yamuklu added that as they battle the flames, they have temporarily suspended shipping traffic in both directions along the Dardanelle Strait.
The minister added that they have evacuated at least 1,250 people from the nine villages.
Yagcilar is one of the nine villages where fire has been burning for the past three days despite relentless efforts from the government and locals alike to bring the blaze under control.
"Four to five houses were destroyed in our village," Cemalettin Tezcan, a resident of Yagcilar village said. "Many animals died. Whomever you see, they will tell you that [they saw damages] due to the fire."
Tezcan added that the cause of the fire has remained unknown.
"It has not been identified yet [as to how the fire started]. Some took their sheep to the mountains. Some of their cows were burnt. As you can see, the whole house was burnt," he detailed.
The fire that started near the center of Canakkale soon spread to a length of 25 kilometers. More than 1,500 hectares of forest have reportedly burned.
Citing relevant authorities, Rudaw's Rawin Sterk reported that eight airplanes, 26 helicopters, nearly 300 vehicles, and 2,700 firefighters have been racing against time to control the fire. However, forceful wind has made the work difficult.
The fire has not resulted in any human losses, but 90 people are reportedly affected by the smoke, receiving treatment at hospitals.
Last year, 1,800 forest fires broke out in Turkey and 142,000 hectares of forest were burned. This year, despite the increased awareness and protection, the same threat continues.
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