Forest fires erupt in southwestern Turkey

MUGLA, Turkey

One forest worker died while battling forest fires along with firefighters that erupted on Sunday in Turkey's southwestern Mugla province with firefighters.

According to Mugla Regional Directorate of Forestry, the forest worker was 38-year-old Gorkem Hasdemir.

For reasons unknown, fires broke out in forestland close to hotels and settlements in Icmeler in the Marmaris district of the coastal province.

Many forest workers and firefighters as well as six helicopters, sprinklers, bulldozers, and water tankers are battling flames that the wind helped quickly spread over the region.

Orhan Tavli, the province’s governor, told Anadolu Agency that one forest worker died during the firefighting efforts. The wind in the region is complicating firefighting efforts, he added.

"The teams are working accordingly in line with how the wind changes direction,” he said, adding that many reinforcements from surrounding areas came to aid efforts.