152 out of 163 fires contained in Turkey

ANKARA (AA) - A total of 152 fires have been contained since they started burning last Wednesday in Turkey, according to the nation’s agriculture and forestry minister.

Efforts continue to contain 11 fires.

There were 163 fires that erupted in 38 provinces since July 28, Bekir Pakdemirli said at a news conference in the Marmaris district in ​​southern Turkey along with Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu.

Pakdemirli said 16 airplanes, nine UAVs, 51 helicopters, one unmanned aerial helicopter, 805 water tankers, 155 pieces of construction equipment and 5,200 personnel are battling the blazes.

He pledged support to victims and said 2,219 farmers in five provinces, 18 districts and 78 villages have been affected.

Pakdemirli said Marmaris saw a record high temperature of 45.5 degrees Celsius (113.9 F). “The previous record was 45.2 [113.36] on July 7, 1988,” he said.​​​​​​​ “The previous record was 45.2 [113.36] on July 7, 1988,” he said.

Regarding ongoing fires in Antalya’s Manavgat district, he said: “We received some good news from the west side of Manavgat. Our teams have taken some risks. It's heading towards a good point.”

Soylu said 16,603 residents in 3,219 households in 28 neighborhoods have been evacuated because of the fires in southern Turkey.