25 April 2024,   14:03
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Turkey battles wind-driven wildfire near resort for 3rd day

Firefighting crews battle for a 3rd day on Thursday wind-driven wildfires that has blackened a swath of pine forest near a popular resort in southwestern Turkey and driven dozens of people from their homes.

More than 2,500 firefighters, aided by water-dropping planes and helicopters, were deployed to fight the blazes that erupted on Tuesday in the Bordubet region, near Marmaris on the Aegean Sea coast. The blaze spread rapidly, fanned by winds.

Authorities have evacuated more than 150 people from the area as a precaution, Turkey’s forestry minister, Vahit Kirisci, told reporters.

The fires, which erupted a year after the worst wildfires in Turkey’s history, were burning in two locations in the Bordubet region, he said.

A total of 27 water-dropping helicopters, 14 planes and 2,600 personnel were involved in the efforts to tame the blazes, the minister added.

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