Turkey to plant saplings in fire-hit southern province

By Burak Bir

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey is all set to plant saplings on 50 hectares [nearly 124 acres] of land in the southern Hatay province, the country's agriculture and forestry minister said on Monday.

"We have already completed the preparation for planting seedlings on 50 hectares of land," Bekir Pakdemirli wrote on Twitter.

Sharing photos of the field work from the area affected by recent fires, Pakdemirli said they are quickly eliminating the negative impact of the fire.

On Oct. 8, a fire erupted in Hatay, affecting some 400 hectares (988 acres) of area and damaging many buildings.