Türkiye continues efforts to combat forest fires

By Onur Orhan, Zafer Goder, and Ali Korkmaz

BOLU / IZMIR, Türkiye (AA) - Türkiye on Friday continued efforts to combat fires, including forest and rural fires, that erupted across the country.

"Today, a total of 47 fires have broken out across the country, including forest and rural fires. Of these, 30 have been brought under control, while our efforts to contain the remaining 17 are ongoing," said Ibrahim Yumakli, the country's agriculture and forestry minister.

Yumakli said a fire in the northwestern Canakkale province was brought under control this morning. He added that a fire in the northwestern Bolu province, which began on Thursday, quickly grew to affect a 30-kilometer (18.64-mile) area due to strong winds.

Efforts to contain the fire in Bolu are ongoing with 11 helicopters, 118 ground vehicles, and 601 personnel, and operations will continue throughout the night, he said.

Noting that three fires broke out in the Aegean Izmir province, Yumakli highlighted that efforts to contain the fires are continuing.

Izmir Governor Suleyman Elban said the intensity of the fire in Karsiyaka has significantly decreased, and the risk has been largely reduced, adding that there have been no casualties or injuries.

*Writing by Serdar Dincel in Istanbul