Wildfire in Çanakkale

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A forest fire broke out near the Damyeri area of Çanakkale yesterday around noon.

The Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) announced in a social media post this morning that 81 individuals were affected by smoke due to the fire, and the treatment of 72 people is ongoing.

9 villages evacuated

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated in a social media post that 1697 personnel, 8 airplanes, 26 helicopters, 240 off-road vehicles, 71 water tankers, and 173 heavy machinery were dispatched to the region.

Yerlikaya provided information that 9 villages were evacuated:

"1251 citizens have been evacuated as a precautionary measure from the villages of Kayadere, Damyeri (Fevzi Çakmak Mahallesi), Yağcılar, Ulupınar, Belen, Kalabaklı, Aşağıokçular, Kızılcaören, and Taşlıtarla. Forty-five citizens were evacuated from Sarıcaeli village's elderly care facility and relocated to the Terzioğlu KYK dormitory. As a precaution, the Çanakkale-Çan road has been closed to civilian vehicle traffic. The Çanakkale Strait has been opened to one-way maritime traffic."

1500 hectares affected

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı stated last night in Çanakkale that the forest fire affected an area of 1500 hectares, with 800 hectares being forested:

"Due to the effect of the wind, which was quite strong, the fire that started at 11:39 AM covered an approximately 15-kilometer area in about 6 hours and rapidly spread along a specific path.

The affected area is approximately 1500 hectares. Out of this, 800 hectares are forested areas, while the rest consists of agricultural land and other areas.

Three houses in Ulupınar and four houses in Yağcılar have been identified as damaged by the fire."

14 individuals transferred from the hospital

Minister Yumaklı also provided information about the situation at the State Hospital, which was threatened by the fire:

"Fourteen individuals have been transferred from the State Hospital as a precautionary measure. Currently, there are 150 patients at the State Hospital, awaiting in 60 ambulances. There is no immediate threat at the moment, but these precautions have been taken just in case."

Originated near a settlement

Yumaklı also revealed that the fire originated from a parcel near a settlement:

"We have stated this repeatedly. About 90 percent of fires have a human element as their cause. Let's please set aside and leave behind issues such as starting fires for forest clearance, field cleaning, or garbage burning that can lead to forest fires or any other fires."

(AS/PE)