Firefighters were battling to control blazes that tore through forests near Turkey’s beach destinations for the sixth day running on Monday, as water-carrying planes from the European Union prepared to join the containment efforts.
APTOPIX_Turkey_Wildfire_70184 People drive away from an advancing fire in Cokertme village, in Bodrum, Mugla, Turkey, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021. For the sixth straight day, Turkish firefighters were battling Monday to control the blazes tearing through forests near Turkey's beach destinations. Fed by strong winds and scorching temperatures, the fires that began Wednesday have left eight people dead and forced residents and tourists to flee vacation resorts in a flotilla of small boats.(AP Photo/Emre Tazegul)
AP Photo/Emre Tazegul
Turkey_Wildfire_64893 A man runs away from an advancing fire in Cokertme village, in Bodrum, Mugla, Turkey, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021. For the sixth straight day, Turkish firefighters were battling Monday to control the blazes tearing through forests near Turkey's beach destinations. Fed by strong winds and scorching temperatures, the fires that began Wednesday have left eight people dead and forced residents and tourists to flee vacation resorts in a flotilla of small boats.(AP Photo/Emre Tazegul)
AP Photo/Emre Tazegul
Turkey_Wildfire_75369 People watch around in wildfire-destroyed Kalemli village near Manavgat, Antalya, Turkey, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021. For the sixth straight day, Turkish firefighters were battling Monday to control the blazes tearing through forests near Turkey's beach destinations. Fed by strong winds and scorching temperatures, the fires that began Wednesday have left eight people dead and forced residents and tourists to flee vacation resorts in a flotilla of small boats.(AP Photo)
AP Photo
Turkey_Wildfire_29688 A man walks with some items he collected from the remains of his house in wildfire-destroyed Kalemli village near Manavgat, Antalya, Turkey, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021. For the sixth straight day, Turkish firefighters were battling Monday to control the blazes tearing through forests near Turkey's beach destinations. Fed by strong winds and scorching temperatures, the fires that began Wednesday have left eight people dead and forced residents and tourists to flee vacation resorts in a flotilla of small boats.(AP Photo)
AP Photo
Turkey_Wildfire_41349 People sit in front of their house in wildfire-destroyed Kalemli village near Manavgat, Antalya, Turkey, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021. For the sixth straight day, Turkish firefighters were battling Monday to control the blazes tearing through forests near Turkey's beach destinations. Fed by strong winds and scorching temperatures, the fires that began Wednesday have left eight people dead and forced residents and tourists to flee vacation resorts in a flotilla of small boats.(AP Photo)
AP Photo
Turkey_Wildfire_22891 People on a beach in Manavgat, Antalya, Turkey, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021. For the sixth straight day, Turkish firefighters were battling Monday to control the blazes tearing through forests near Turkey's beach destinations. Fed by strong winds and scorching temperatures, the fires that began Wednesday have left eight people dead and forced residents and tourists to flee vacation resorts in a flotilla of small boats.(AP Photo)
AP Photo
Turkey_Wildfire_88515 A firefighter works as an advancing fire engulfs the beach in Cokertme village, in Bodrum, Mugla, Turkey, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021. For the sixth straight day, Turkish firefighters were battling Monday to control the blazes tearing through forests near Turkey's beach destinations. Fed by strong winds and scorching temperatures, the fires that began Wednesday have left eight people dead and forced residents and tourists to flee vacation resorts in a flotilla of small boats.(AP Photo/Emre Tazegul)
AP Photo/Emre Tazegul
Turkey_Wildfire_80607 A helicopter drops water over a fire in Cokertme village, in Bodrum, Mugla, Turkey, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021. For the sixth straight day, Turkish firefighters were battling Monday to control the blazes tearing through forests near Turkey's beach destinations. Fed by strong winds and scorching temperatures, the fires that began Wednesday have left eight people dead and forced residents and tourists to flee vacation resorts in a flotilla of small boats.(AP Photo/Emre Tazegul)
AP Photo/Emre Tazegul
Turkey_Wildfire_92796 A helicopter takes water from the sea to extinguish a fire in Cokertme village, in Bodrum, Mugla, Turkey, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021. For the sixth straight day, Turkish firefighters were battling Monday to control the blazes tearing through forests near Turkey's beach destinations. Fed by strong winds and scorching temperatures, the fires that began Wednesday have left eight people dead and forced residents and tourists to flee vacation resorts in a flotilla of small boats.(AP Photo/Emre Tazegul)
AP Photo/Emre Tazegul
Turkey_Wildfire_79789 A helicopter trops water over a fire in Cokertme village, in Bodrum, Mugla, Turkey, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021. For the sixth straight day, Turkish firefighters were battling Monday to control the blazes tearing through forests near Turkey's beach destinations. Fed by strong winds and scorching temperatures, the fires that began Wednesday have left eight people dead and forced residents and tourists to flee vacation resorts in a flotilla of small boats.(AP Photo/Emre Tazegul)
AP Photo/Emre Tazegul
Turkey_Wildfire_33770 A burned out car in Cokertme village, in Bodrum, Mugla, Turkey, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021. For the sixth straight day, Turkish firefighters were battling Monday to control the blazes tearing through forests near Turkey's beach destinations. Fed by strong winds and scorching temperatures, the fires that began Wednesday have left eight people dead and forced residents and tourists to flee vacation resorts in a flotilla of small boats.(AP Photo/Emre Tazegul)
AP Photo/Emre Tazegul
Turkey_Wildfire_29418 Smoke engulfs the beach in Cokertme village, in Bodrum, Mugla, Turkey, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021. For the sixth straight day, Turkish firefighters were battling Monday to control the blazes tearing through forests near Turkey's beach destinations. Fed by strong winds and scorching temperatures, the fires that began Wednesday have left eight people dead and forced residents and tourists to flee vacation resorts in a flotilla of small boats.(AP Photo/Emre Tazegul)
AP Photo/Emre Tazegul
Turkey_Wildfire_14408 Cows shelter as an advancing fire engulfs the beach in Cokertme village, in Bodrum, Mugla, Turkey, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021. For the sixth straight day, Turkish firefighters were battling Monday to control the blazes tearing through forests near Turkey's beach destinations. Fed by strong winds and scorching temperatures, the fires that began Wednesday have left eight people dead and forced residents and tourists to flee vacation resorts in a flotilla of small boats.(AP Photo/Emre Tazegul)
AP Photo/Emre Tazegul
Turkey_Wildfire_68113 Wildfires light up the evening sky and advance on Cokertme village, in Bodrum, Mugla, Turkey, late Monday, Aug. 1, 2021. For the sixth straight day, Turkish firefighters were battling Monday to control the blazes tearing through forests near Turkey's beach destinations. Fed by strong winds and scorching temperatures, the fires that began Wednesday have left eight people dead and forced residents and tourists to flee vacation resorts in a flotilla of small boats.(AP Photo/Emre Tazegul)
AP Photo/Emre Tazegul
Turkey_Wildfire_01964 An advancing fire engulfs Cokertme village, in Bodrum, Mugla, Turkey, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021. For the sixth straight day, Turkish firefighters were battling Monday to control the blazes tearing through forests near Turkey's beach destinations. Fed by strong winds and scorching temperatures, the fires that began Wednesday have left eight people dead and forced residents and tourists to flee vacation resorts in a flotilla of small boats.(AP Photo/Emre Tazegul)
AP Photo/Emre Tazegul
Turkey_Wildfire_62045 People run away from an advancing fire in Cokertme village, in Bodrum, Mugla, Turkey, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021. For the sixth straight day, Turkish firefighters were battling Monday to control the blazes tearing through forests near Turkey's beach destinations. Fed by strong winds and scorching temperatures, the fires that began Wednesday have left eight people dead and forced residents and tourists to flee vacation resorts in a flotilla of small boats.(AP Photo/Emre Tazegul)
AP Photo/Emre Tazegul
Turkey_Wildfire_87049 A man checks his mobile phone as an advancing fire engulfs the beach in Cokertme village, in Bodrum, Mugla, Turkey, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021. For the sixth straight day, Turkish firefighters were battling Monday to control the blazes tearing through forests near Turkey's beach destinations. Fed by strong winds and scorching temperatures, the fires that began Wednesday have left eight people dead and forced residents and tourists to flee vacation resorts in a flotilla of small boats.(AP Photo/Emre Tazegul)
AP Photo/Emre Tazegul
Turkey_Wildfire_92577 A cow waits to be rescued as an advancing fire engulfs the beach in Cokertme village, in Bodrum, Mugla, Turkey, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021. For the sixth straight day, Turkish firefighters were battling Monday to control the blazes tearing through forests near Turkey's beach destinations. Fed by strong winds and scorching temperatures, the fires that began Wednesday have left eight people dead and forced residents and tourists to flee vacation resorts in a flotilla of small boats.(AP Photo/Emre Tazegul)
AP Photo/Emre Tazegul
Turkey_Wildfire_32468 People run away from an advancing fire in Cokertme village, in Bodrum, Mugla, Turkey, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021. For the sixth straight day, Turkish firefighters were battling Monday to control the blazes tearing through forests near Turkey's beach destinations. Fed by strong winds and scorching temperatures, the fires that began Wednesday have left eight people dead and forced residents and tourists to flee vacation resorts in a flotilla of small boats.(AP Photo/Emre Tazegul)
AP Photo/Emre Tazegul
Turkey_Wildfire_82023 People watch an advancing fire in Cokertme village, in Bodrum, Mugla, Turkey, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021. For the sixth straight day, Turkish firefighters were battling Monday to control the blazes tearing through forests near Turkey's beach destinations. Fed by strong winds and scorching temperatures, the fires that began Wednesday have left eight people dead and forced residents and tourists to flee vacation resorts in a flotilla of small boats.(AP Photo/Emre Tazegul)
AP Photo/Emre Tazegul
Turkey_Wildfire_06176 Wildfires engulf the sky and advance in Cokertme village, in Bodrum, Mugla, Turkey, late Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021. For the sixth straight day, Turkish firefighters were battling Monday to control the blazes tearing through forests near Turkey's beach destinations. Fed by strong winds and scorching temperatures, the fires that began Wednesday have left eight people dead and forced residents and tourists to flee vacation resorts in a flotilla of small boats.(AP Photo/Emre Tazegul)
AP Photo/Emre Tazegul
Turkey_Wildfire_89302 An aerial view of the burning Sirtkoy village, near Manavgat, Antalya, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021. More than 100 wildfires have been brought under control in Turkey, according to officials. The forestry minister tweeted that five fires are continuing in the tourist destinations of Antalya and Mugla. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
Turkey_Wildfire_37601 A plane pours water over the fire-devastating Sirtkoy village, near Manavgat, Antalya, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021. More than 100 wildfires have been brought under control in Turkey, according to officials. The forestry minister tweeted that five fires are continuing in the tourist destinations of Antalya and Mugla. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
Turkey_Wildfire_30962 An aerial view of burning Sirtkoy village, near Manavgat, Antalya, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021. More than 100 wildfires have been brought under control in Turkey, according to officials. The forestry minister tweeted that five fires are continuing in the tourist destinations of Antalya and Mugla. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
Turkey_Wildfire_48617 Firefighters work in the smoke-engulfed Mazi area as wildfires rolled down the hill toward the seashore, forcing people to be evacuated, in Bodrum, Mugla, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021. More than 100 wildfires have been brought under control in Turkey, according to officials. The forestry minister tweeted that five fires are continuing in the tourist destinations of Antalya and Mugla. (AP Photo/Emre Tazegul)
AP Photo/Emre Tazegul
Turkey_Wildfire_93570 The smoke-engulfed Mazi area engulfed by wildfires, forcing people to be evacuated, in Bodrum, Mugla, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021. More than 100 wildfires have been brought under control in Turkey, according to officials. The forestry minister tweeted that five fires are continuing in the tourist destinations of Antalya and Mugla. (AP Photo/Emre Tazegul)
AP Photo/Emre Tazegul
Turkey_Wildfire_91322 People on the beach of smoke-engulfed Mazi area as wildfires rolled down the hill toward the seashore, in Bodrum, Mugla, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021. More than 100 wildfires have been brought under control in Turkey, according to officials. The forestry minister tweeted that five fires are continuing in the tourist destinations of Antalya and Mugla. (AP Photo/Emre Tazegul)
AP Photo/Emre Tazegul
Turkey_Wildfire_57735 People use a boat to evacuate from smoke-engulfed Mazi area with a burning house and a car in the background, in Bodrum, Mugla, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021. Wildfires raged Sunday near Turkey's holiday beach destinations of Antalya and Mugla as the discovery of more bodies caused the death toll to rise to eight. Residents and tourists fled the danger in small boats while the coast guard and two navy ships waited out at sea in case a bigger evacuation was needed. (IHA via AP)
IHA via AP
Turkey_Wildfire_95134 Firefighters work as the wildfires engulf an area near the seashore, forcing people to be evacuated by boats, in Bodrum, Mugla, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021. Wildfires in the Turkish holiday destinations of Antalya and Mugla are still raging as firefighters worked to battle the blazes for a fifth day. Authorities warned tourists and residents to keep evacuating Turunc, a town in the seaside resort of Marmaris, and navy ships waited in the sea there to see if a bigger evacuation was needed. (Ismail Coskun/IHA via AP)
Ismail Coskun/IHA via AP
Turkey_Wildfire_74296 A firefighter works as the wildfires engulf an area near the seashore, forcing people to be evacuated by boats, in Bodrum, Mugla, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021.Wildfires in the Turkish holiday destinations of Antalya and Mugla are still raging as firefighters worked to battle the blazes for a fifth day. Authorities warned tourists and residents to keep evacuating Turunc, a town in the seaside resort of Marmaris, and navy ships waited in the sea there to see if a bigger evacuation was needed. (Ismail Coskun/IHA via AP)
Ismail Coskun/IHA via AP
Turkey_Wildfire_43804 A helicopter pours water over the fire-devastating Sirtkoy village, near Manavgat, Antalya, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021. More than 100 wildfires have been brought under control in Turkey, according to officials. The forestry minister tweeted that five fires are continuing in the tourist destinations of Antalya and Mugla. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
Turkey_Wildfire_13221 People leave houses as a helicopter pours water over the fire-devastating Sirtkoy village, near Manavgat, Antalya, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021. More than 100 wildfires have been brought under control in Turkey, according to officials. The forestry minister tweeted that five fires are continuing in the tourist destinations of Antalya and Mugla. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
Turkey_Wildfire_62921 People run away in the fire-devastating Sirtkoy village, near Manavgat, Antalya, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021. More than 100 wildfires have been brought under control in Turkey, according to officials. The forestry minister tweeted that five fires are continuing in the tourist destinations of Antalya and Mugla. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
Turkey_Wildfire_84353 A man reacts as a helicopter pours water over the fire-devastating Sirtkoy village, near Manavgat, Antalya, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021. More than 100 wildfires have been brought under control in Turkey, according to officials. The forestry minister tweeted that five fires are continuing in the tourist destinations of Antalya and Mugla. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
Turkey_Wildfire_50096 A helicopter pours water over the fire-devastating Sirtkoy village, near Manavgat, Antalya, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021 More than 100 wildfires have been brought under control in Turkey, according to officials. The forestry minister tweeted that five fires are continuing in the tourist destinations of Antalya and Mugla. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
Turkey_Wildfire_37152 People sit near near the smoke-engulfed Mazi area as wildfires rolled down the hill toward the seashore, forcing people to be evacuated, in Bodrum, Mugla, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021. More than 100 wildfires have been brought under control in Turkey, according to officials. The forestry minister tweeted that five fires are continuing in the tourist destinations of Antalya and Mugla. (AP Photo/Emre Tazegul)
AP Photo/Emre Tazegul
Turkey_Wildfire_43726 Firefighters work in the smoke-engulfed Mazi area as wildfires rolled down the hill toward the seashore, forcing people to be evacuated, in Bodrum, Mugla, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021. More than 100 wildfires have been brought under control in Turkey, according to officials. The forestry minister tweeted that five fires are continuing in the tourist destinations of Antalya and Mugla. (AP Photo/Emre Tazegul)
AP Photo/Emre Tazegul
Turkey_Wildfire_67608 Firefighters work in the smoke-engulfed Mazi area as wildfires rolled down the hill toward the seashore, forcing people to be evacuated, in Bodrum, Mugla, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021. More than 100 wildfires have been brought under control in Turkey, according to officials. The forestry minister tweeted that five fires are continuing in the tourist destinations of Antalya and Mugla. (AP Photo/Emre Tazegul)
BOZALAN, Turkey (AP) — Selcuk Sanli set his two cows loose, put his family’s most treasured belongings in a car and fled his home as a wildfire approached his village near Turkey’s beach resort of Bodrum, one of thousands fleeing flames that have coated the skies with a thick yellow haze.
For the sixth straight day, Turkish firefighters battled Monday to control the blazes that are tearing through forests near Turkey’s beach destinations. Fed by strong winds and scorching temperatures, the fires that began Wednesday have left eight people dead. Residents and tourists have fled vacation resorts in flotillas of small boats or convoys of cars and trucks. Many villagers have lost their homes and farm animals and have had trouble breathing amid the heavy smoke.
Overall, some 10,000 people have been evacuated in Mugla province alone, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said Monday.
Sanli returned to check on his house Monday in Bozalan only to find that the fire had flared.
“Property is an important part of life but life itself comes first,” he said as he prepared to leave once again.
Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli said on Twitter that crews were still tackling nine fires in the coastal provinces of Antalya and Mugla that are popular tourist areas. Other active fires were in the provinces of Isparta, Denizli, Izmir and Adana.
Another fire in Tunceli, in southeast Turkey, was contained on Monday, the minister said earlier. In all, 137 fires that broke out in over 30 provinces since Wednesday have been extinguished.
“We are going through days when the heat is above 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), where the winds are strong and humidity is extremely low,” Pakdemirli said. “We are struggling under such difficult conditions.”
In Bozalan, Esra Sanli sobbed as she pointed at a fire raging near the village.
“There’s no plane, there’s no helicopter, there’s no roads. How is this going to be extinguished? How?” she said.
Firetrucks, with their sirens on, drove toward Bozalan, while villagers were seen herding cows away from the area.
On Sunday, residents were forced to evacuate the nearby village of Cokertme as flames neared. Some got on small boats and others left by cars as the fire got closer and closer — scenes that Ahmet Aras, the mayor of the nearby resort of Bodrum, described as “hell.” Precautions were taken to protect two nearby thermal power plants.
An evacuation order was also issued for the town of Turunc, near the seaside resort of Marmaris in Mugla province. People carrying suitcases fled on small boats.
Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said Monday that some tourists were able to return to their hotels after the threat dissipated.
The EU said it helped mobilize firefighting planes from Croatia and Spain to help Turkey. Planes from Ukraine, Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran have also been fighting the blazes. Spain said it was sending two water-dumping aircraft and one transport plane as well as 27 soldiers to help.
The EU announcement followed allegations that the Turkish government was compromising firefighting efforts by refusing help from Western nations. Pakdemirli refuted that, saying that the government had only refused offers for planes whose water-dumping capacities were less than five tons. A total of 16 planes, 51 helicopters and more than 5,000 personnel were tackling the fires, he said.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government has also been widely criticized for failing to purchase state-of-the-art firefighting planes.
In Marmaris, Mayor Mehmet Oktay said fires were still burning in two locations and estimated that 11,000 hectares (28,000 acres) of forest had been incinerated. On Monday, a fire reached the edge of the village of Hisaronu, burning a number of homes and descending down a mountainside toward a road as police evacuated ambulance crews and journalists.
“Our lungs have been burning for the past five days,” Oktay told Haberturk television.
The health minister, Fahrettin Koca, said at least 27 people affected by the fires were still being treated in hospitals while hundreds of others had been treated and released.
Soylu, the interior minister, said authorities were investigating the cause of the fires, including human “carelessness” and possible sabotage by outlawed Kurdish militants. He said one person was detained over allegations that he may have been paid by the group to start a fire.
Experts, however, mostly point to climate change as being behind the fires, along with accidents caused by people. Erdogan has said one of the fires was started by children.
A heat wave across southern Europe, fed by hot air from North Africa, has led to wildfires across the Mediterranean, including in Italy and Greece, where people had to be evacuated by sea to escape the flames.
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Fraser reported from Ankara, Turkey. Ayse Wieting in Istanbul and Barry Hatton in Lisbon contributed.
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