Massive forest fire in Turkey’s Manavgat district leaves several injured

By Suleyman Elcin, Ayse Yildiz and Hatice Ozdemir Tosun

ANTALYA, Turkey (AA) – A major forest fire in Turkey’s Mediterranean district of Manavgat has left several people injured, the country’s agriculture and forestry minister said late Wednesday.

“The fire has not yet been fully brought under control,” Bekir Pakdemirli told reporters at the fire control center in Antalya province.

Noting that most people who were injured due to smoke inhalation were discharged from hospitals, Pakdemirli said he visited the remaining five to six people who were hospitalized.

He said the area where the fire was active had increased.

“We said 600 hectares in the evening. We already see that this will increase at least three or four times.”

Pakdemirli also said that an investigation has been launched into the cause of the fire.

He added that there are fires in Turkey’s Mediterranean provinces of Adana and Mersin as well as Antalya and said a total of 1,904 people were working to put them out.