Forest fires continue to engulf Turkey's western, southern coasts over past three days

Amid a sweltering heatwave in Turkey, forest fires in the country's western and southern coasts have been ongoing over the past three days, with hundreds of hectares of forest land already burnt to ashes.

Around 800 hectares of forest land were burned to ashes as the fire in the Menderes district of the Aegean province of İzmir continued to rage on its third day on July 3.

Eleven firefighting helicopters and four amphibious airplanes took off in the early morning hours to battle the fire raging in steep forest lands.

Officials said there was no risk that the fire would spread further, as around 80 percent area had been encircled.

Firefighting efforts in the region are ongoing to contain the fire.

Speaking to reporters late on July 2, forestry general directorate head İsmail Üzmez said there was no solid information regarding claims that glass bottles caused the fire, but said he believed it was manmade.

Accordingly, he urged citizens to properly clean up the area in forest lands after having picnic.

Separately, around 150 hectares of calabrian pine trees have also been damaged in a forest fire in the Anamur district of the Mediterranean province of Mersin so far, as the fire raged for its third day. Firefighting efforts also resumed in the early hours of July 3 as it had partly been taken under control.

Mahmut Yılmaz, the head of the Mersin forestry general directorate, told state-run Anadolu Agency that the fire quickly spread due to strong winds on its first day on July 1, while extinguishing works had been interrupted by steep rocks in the area.

"We are intervening in the fire with three helicopters, 46 sprinklers, 20 water trucks, 200 forest employees, 25 technicians and nearly 100...