On Friday, southeast Türkiye faced a devastating wildfire that has tragically claimed 11 lives. The country's health minister, Fahrettin Koca, announced the rising death toll via X, the social media platform.
The fires ignited on Thursday night in the cultivated regions between Diyarbakir province's Cinar district and Mardin province's Mazidagi district. Strong winds rapidly fueled the blaze, causing it to spread over a vast area in a short time.
Local authorities had already warned residents about the high risk of forest fires due to the forecasted extreme heat and dry conditions for the week, emphasizing the urgency for precautions.
Türkiye is no stranger to forest fires, especially during the hot summer months, with western and southern regions frequently battling similar disasters annually.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
