Turkey beach resorts battle blazes
ANKARA: Four people were reported dead and more than 180 injured as thousands of firefighters battled huge blazes spreading across the Mediterranean resort regions of Turkey’s southern coast.
Officials also launched an investigation into suspicions the fires that broke out on Wednesday in four locations to the east of the tourist hotspot Antalya were the result of arson.
Turkey’s disaster and emergencies office said three people were killed – including an 82-year-old who lived alone.
The NTV channel later said a 25-year-old man died in Marmaris while trying to bring aid.
The fires first emerged across a sparsely populated region about 75km east of Antalya – a resort especially popular with Russian and other eastern European tourists.
But they were creeping closer on Thursday to sandy beaches dotted with hotels and resorts.
Images on social media and Turkish TV showed residents jumping out of their cars and running for their lives through smoke-filled streets lit up by orange flames.
The fires were raging amid temperatures approaching 40C and with wind gusts of 50km/h.
Antalya mayor Muhittin Bocek said he suspected foul play because the fires started in four locations at once. “This suggests an arson attack,” he said.