Nationalist media reports suggest that it could be sabotage by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)

Fires in Turkey become a political issue 

photo_camera REUTERS/NAVESH CHITRAKAR - Forest fire

Turkish authorities continue to battle a dozen wildfires in the south and west of the Eurasian country, near the Mediterranean coast, with the support of several air tankers sent by Russia and Ukraine. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared a state of disaster in the regions of the country affected by the forest fires, which have left at least six dead and more than 400 injured, according to the latest official assessment.

The worst affected region is the Mediterranean coastal province of Antalya, a popular destination for European and Russian tourists, where three people died. The flames are affecting 21 of the country's 81 provinces: Adana, Antalya, Jahramanmaras, Mersin and Osmaniye in the south of the country, as well as Mugla (southwest), Kayseri and Kirikkale (centre).

In the last few hours, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca has raised the number of injured to more than 400 in total. "We have 410 people who were injured in the fires: 400 people have been discharged, ten are in hospital," the minister said on his Twitter account. Two more injured people have been rescued in Manavgat and taken to a local hospital. A total of 275 people have been affected by the incident.

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In total, six people have been killed so far and the fire has wiped out more than 3,000 head of livestock, destroying large areas of forest, banana plantations and agricultural land.

Turkish Agriculture Minister Bekir Pekdemirli said that 74 of the 85 forest fires "have been brought under control", with 4,000 troops, six planes, 45 helicopters and 55 heavy vehicles deployed.

Pekdemirli said there was an ongoing investigation into the causes and that "there will be a statement when we discover major damage", but called on the public not to spread "uncorroborated" information on social media, especially after a wave of comments blaming the fires on members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Several nationalist media have suggested that it could be sabotage by the Kurdish guerrilla group, the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), although the authorities have not provided any details.

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While forest fires are common in Turkey's Mediterranean and Aegean regions during the arid summer months, the authorities say the forest fires were allegedly arson and vow to bring the alleged perpetrators to justice. Erdogan told reporters that the fires in the tourist areas of Mugla, Marmaris and Bodrum on the west coast were set at almost the same time. He promised a serious investigation into the origins of the fires.

Turkey's main opposition party, the social democratic CHP, has already ruled out sabotage after talking to Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu. "Soylu said there is no indication that the fires are due to sabotage. They could have been caused by high temperatures," said CHP deputy Engin Özkoç. The opposition has criticised the government for not having taken preventive measures and for not having invested in fire-fighting equipment, such as air tankers, despite the frequency of fires in Turkey.

However, the emergency seems far from over. Firefighters are struggling in hellish conditions in the face of strong, dry winds and high temperatures fuelled by hot air from Africa, which is expected to continue for at least a week. The flames are particularly hitting regions along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, among the country's most popular tourist destinations, where many visitors have been ordered to evacuate.

AP/NIRANJAN SHRESTHA - Un helicóptero vierte agua para tratar de apagar un incendio forestal

Dozens of villages and housing estates have had to be evacuated by the authorities, who have also had to cut off electricity and water supplies to several towns. The flames have razed forests and some settlements, engulfed towns and tourist destinations and forced thousands of residents to flee their homes.

High temperatures in the eastern Mediterranean, which are approaching 40 degrees in southern Turkey and will continue in the coming days, are facilitating the spread of fires not only in the Eurasian country, but also in Greece and Italy, where catastrophic situations have also occurred. 

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