Firefighters battle to contain five wildfires across Turkey, minister says
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Firefighters battle to contain five wildfires across Turkey, minister says
ANKARA (Reuters) - Firefighters were battling to contain wildfires in five Turkish provinces on Saturday, the Forestry Minister said, though a blaze in the western Izmir region that broke out on Thursday had eased somewhat and residential areas were no longer at risk.
The blaze in Izmir's Karsiyaka district was caused by a fire built by three people picnicking near an area of forest, Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli told reporters, adding that authorities are close to identifying the people.
"The intensity of the fire decreased, and there is no more risk to residential areas at the moment," Yumakli said. The fire was burning inside a valley which is hard to reach from land, he added.
The blaze, which was fanned by strong winds, came close to residential areas on Friday, damaging homes and businesses and forcing evacuations.
Footage showed helicopters and planes continuing to drop water on the flames, as firefighters' efforts to contain the fire from land went on.
Firefighters are also working to contain wildfires in the western provinces of Aydin and Manisa, as well as the northern provinces of Bolu and Karabuk, Forestry Minister Yumakli said.
