Fires in Turkey: tourists evacuated to Bodrum, Erdogan criticized

In the tourist town of Bodrum (here, July 29, 2021), residents and travelers had to be evacuated from their homes and hotels, often by boat.

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For the fourth day in a row, Turkish firefighters were fighting forest fires in the south of the country on Saturday, while the death toll rose to six dead and more than 300 injured.

In Bodrum, a famous seaside resort, locals and travelers had to be evacuated from their homes and hotels.

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With our correspondent in Istanbul,

Anne Andlauer

The mayor of Antalya, Muhittin Böcek, appealed for help this weekend: “ 

We are burning.

Save us

.

Since a first fire broke out in the middle of the week in this southern Turkish province, new fires immediately replace those that the firefighters have had so much trouble extinguishing.

Strong winds and high temperatures, sometimes above 45 degrees, complicate their mission.

Forest fires have broken out in around 30 provinces, but

Antalya

and its neighbor, Mugla, are by far the most affected.

While residents continue to flee their homes, some fires are dangerously approaching hotels.

In Bodrum and Marmaris, tourists have had to leave their vacation spot, often by boat.

Investigations are underway to determine the origin of the flames.

Visiting Antalya, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan thanked Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Iran, who sent planes and helicopters.

But the head of state must come under strong criticism from the opposition, which is indignant at the fact that Turkey does not have water bombers.

And this while forest fires are more and more numerous each year.

Saturday evening, a dozen fires remained out of control, while 91 were now under control. 

Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed locals as he visits the disaster areas of Manavgat and Marmaris, near Manavgat, Turkey on July 31, 2021. via REUTERS - MURAT CETINMUHURDAR / PPO

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  • Turkey

  • Natural disasters

  • Environment

  • Tourism