Forest fires rage across southern Turkey

Forest fires swept across vast areas of southern Turkey on Thursday, threatening residential areas and popular tourist destinations.

In the southwestern province of Antalya, three people were killed and 138 injured in fires that broke out simultaneously across four areas of Manavgat district at noon on Wednesday, the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said.

Nearly 1,000 emergency service workers backed by helicopters, aircraft and drones were deployed to tackle the blazes, which had impacted homes, workplaces and agricultural lands, it added.

Speaking to state-run Anadolu Agency, Search and Rescue Association (AKUT) Chairman Recep Şalcı said strong winds had contributed to the rapid spread of the fires across the region, with emergency services battling to protect larger towns and cities.

Of particular concern is a blaze in Muğla province, located at the intersection of the country’s main tourist regions on the Aegean coast.

Several buildings including hotels were evacuated on Thursday after flames approached the town of Armutalan, state broadcaster TRT Haber reported.

Elsewhere. AFAD said its teams had responded to forest fires in the southeastern provinces of Mersin, Osmaniye and Adana, where nearly 2,000 people had been forced from their homes.

Pro-government media organisations and nationalist commentators have sought to link the crisis to terrorism.

On Thursday, retired admiral Cihat Yaycı told broadcaster TVNET that the fires were the result of sabotage rather than neglect.

“The state is facing a serious Greek-PKK terror”, he said, using the acronym for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party.

Earlier in the day, two alleged PKK members were detained in the Aegean coastal city of Manisa, leading to local media reports they had been involved in arson attacks across the region.

However, these claims were denied by the Manisa Governor’s office, which said the detentions were part of an unrelated security operation.  

The fires come during an extended heatwave across Turkey that has seen temperatures reach 42 degrees Celsius in places and less than expected rainfall across much of the Aegean and Mediterranean coast.     

Speaking to local media on Friday, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli said the situation was being brought under control, according to Anadolu.

"Forensic teams and law enforcement officers continue their investigations into the cause of the fires,” he said. “An explanation will be given when more important information comes to light.”