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The fires have been raging since Wednesday, and its two most recent victims were forest workers
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The wildfires have burned down forests, singed villages and tourist destinations, and forced people in their path to evacuate
At least six people have so far been killed in wildfires that raged on in Turkey since earlier this week, said local reports on Saturday, July 31.
The reports also said the spreading wildfires have led President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to declare parts of southern Turkey, where the blazes are predominant, as “disaster areas.”
He was inspecting the affected areas from a helicopter on Saturday, said the local reports, before he took to Twitter to declare them as disaster areas.
“We will continue to take all necessary steps to heal our nation’s wounds, compensate for its losses, and improve its opportunities,” he was quoted by the local reports as saying.
The fires have been raging since Wednesday, and its two most recent victims were said to be forest workers.
The wildfires have reportedly burned down forests, singed villages and tourist destinations, and forced people in their path to evacuate.
Turkey’s Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli was quoted by the reports as saying on Saturday that 88 of 98 fires that broke out amid strong winds and scorching heat had been brought under control.
The reports also said at least five people have died in the town of Manavgat and one died in the town of Marmaris.
Both are said to be located on the Mediterranean coast and are tourist destinations.
Health Minister Fahrettin Koca was quoted by the local reports as saying that 400 people affected by the fires in Manavgat were discharged from hospitals, while 10 were still under treatment.
Meanwhile, 159 people have been treated and discharged, and one person was still under treatment for burns in Marmaris, said the reports.
Similar fires have been raging in Lebanon and Syria, with at least one death reported from the former.