Wildfire in southwest Turkey 'largely’ under control: Erdogan
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that the wildfire in the country’s southwestern province of Mugla has mostly been controlled, adding that the blaze has not caused any casualties.
A major forest in Turkey’s Aegean town of Marmaris caught fire on Tuesday. The area is partially populated.
“Fortunately, there are no casualties,” Erdogan told reporters near the incident area on Friday. “This thing [wildfire] has largely been controlled. I hope we can quickly resolve the issues in the region by planting trees,” reported the state media.
Marmaris is one of the country’s popular places for holidaymakers. A series of wildfires in Mugla and Bodrum last year devastated tens of thousands of hectares. A European Union atmosphere monitor said at the time that the blazes were the most intense in Turkey’s history.
Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Thursday that a suspect had been arrested for causing the fresh wildfire who has allegedly confessed to starting the fire due to a “misunderstanding with his family.”
Erdogan said that it is fine with him if whatever heavy sentence is given to the suspect, including execution.
A major forest in Turkey’s Aegean town of Marmaris caught fire on Tuesday. The area is partially populated.
“Fortunately, there are no casualties,” Erdogan told reporters near the incident area on Friday. “This thing [wildfire] has largely been controlled. I hope we can quickly resolve the issues in the region by planting trees,” reported the state media.
Marmaris is one of the country’s popular places for holidaymakers. A series of wildfires in Mugla and Bodrum last year devastated tens of thousands of hectares. A European Union atmosphere monitor said at the time that the blazes were the most intense in Turkey’s history.
Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Thursday that a suspect had been arrested for causing the fresh wildfire who has allegedly confessed to starting the fire due to a “misunderstanding with his family.”
Erdogan said that it is fine with him if whatever heavy sentence is given to the suspect, including execution.