ANKARA: Firefighters were battling to contain wildfires in five Turkish provinces on Saturday (Aug 17), the Forestry Minister said, though a blaze in the western Izmir region that broke out on Thursday had eased somewhat and residential areas were no longer at risk.
The blaze in Izmir’s Karsiyaka district was caused by a fire built by three people picnicking near an area of forest, Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli told reporters, adding that authorities are close to identifying the people.
“The intensity of the fire decreased, and there is no more risk to residential areas at the moment,” Yumakli said. The fire was burning inside a valley that was hard to reach from the land, he added.
The blaze, which was fanned by strong winds, came close to residential areas on Friday, damaging homes and businesses and forcing evacuations.
Source: CNA
