Large fire in Kaz Mountains
BALIKESİR – Anatolia News Agency
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fire is continuing to spread in the Kaz Mountains in the Havran district of the western province of Balıkesir. Nearly 500
hectares of forest have so far burned down and a number of villages have
been evacuated.
Governor
Ahmet Turhan said they were struggling to bring the fire under control because
of the strong winds. Attacking the fire from the air with firefighting planes
was also not possible, he added.
However,
the regional director of forestry Recep Ateş said “firefighters have begun to
respond to the fire effectively” as the wind speeds have started to decrease.
“There
are some critical points which could be dangerous for us, but for now the
situation does not look too bad,” he said.
Ateş
added that nearly 500 hectares forest had been burned down so far. Olive groves
and farm lands have also been affected by the fire.
The cause
of the fire is still unknown but according to official estimations a blaze in a
farm could be the source.
