Fires nearly end thanks to rains, massive efforts

Ravaged by wildfires since July 28, Turkey has contained most of the 223 wildfires that took 47 provinces in its grip with only six wildfires remaining, Turkey's agriculture and forestry minister said on Aug. 7 as precipitation at the weekend helped end the wildfires in the southern province of Antalya.

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Most of the fires have been contained thanks to the dedicated efforts of Turkish firefighting teams, while the blazes in Köyceğiz, Kavaklıdere, Milas, Yatağan and Çine in the southwestern Muğla province continue, as well as one in the town of Sütçüler in Isparta, Bekir Pakdemirli told reporters.

Firefighting teams are working hard to protect a thermal power plant and touristic areas in Muğla, where as many as 15 forest fires initially broke out, he added.

The fires in Milas are currently "dormant, not posing any significant threat," he said.

"We have been combatting the fires with 16 aircraft, nine unmanned aerial vehicles, 57 helicopters, an unmanned helicopter, 850 water tenders and tankers, and 150 engineering vehicles, along with 5,250 forestry personnel," Pakdemirli added.

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On Twitter, he said the wildfires in Muğla's Marmaris, Seydikemer and Yılanlı districts have been contained, along with those in Karacasu and Bozdoğan in the Aydın province, and Gölhisar in the Burdur province.
Another wildfire near the central Black Sea province of Karabük was also contained, Pakdemirli added.

Locals in the southern province of Antalya were full of happiness after precipitation began late Aug. 6 and early Aug. 7 in the Manvgat and İbradı districts.

As the rainfalls helped the wildfires extinguish, some people in Manavgat kneeled down on their knees and started praying, thanking God for the...