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The fire, which broke out in the forest area of the Sarımazı district of the Bethlehem district of Hatay and posed a threat in rural areas and in some neighborhoods of the Iskenderun and Arsuz districts, showed its effects in the resettlement areas. Firefighters intervened in the fires that occurred in some residences in the Fatih district of the Belén district. Citizens were evacuated from their homes. Some houses were damaged by fire. Citizens leaving their homes are also helping crews extinguish the fire.
CITIZENS EMPTY HOUSES
After the fire spread to the area where the settlements were located, the families who took their children fled the area and away from the flames. The region was blocked by police and firefighters. While the police teams ensure the evacuation of citizens from their homes, the firefighters continue their work of extinguishing the fire ”.
“A PROFESSIONAL SABOTAGE”
Regarding the fires, Lütfü Savaş, Mayor of the Hatay Metropolitan Municipality, said: “The simultaneous outbreak of fires at three different points feels like professional sabotage, not amateur. At least I think so “.
MOLOTOF COCKTAIL CLAIM
In two videos uploaded to social media, it was claimed that the fire, which continued to affect a large area in Hatay and threatened settlements, started with the launch of a motolof cocktail. In both videos it is alleged that a woman on a motorcycle, dressed in green, threw a Molotov cocktail. One person in the recording said: “One of the women threw me a Molotov cocktail.”
“THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES”
In a statement from the Hatay Governorate around 2:30 p.m., it was reported that although the fire that broke out in different parts of the Bethlehem district on Friday was taken under control from time to time, the fire was not extinguished on the ground and weather conditions. The statement continued as follows:
“In our province, the efforts to contain the fire continue with the teams of the Kahramanmaraş Regional Forest Directorate, the Fire Teams of the Hatay Metropolitan Municipality, the Fire Teams of the District Municipality and the fire teams of the surrounding municipalities.
People have been arrested in connection with the possibility of sabotage in the fire, and the investigation into the matter continues. There is no definitive information on the sabotage yet.
In order to investigate both the course of the fire and the possibility of sabotage, UAVs are on duty in our region and our law enforcement agencies are investigating the issue extensively.
“WE HAVE CONCERNS AND DOUBTS”
Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli made a statement this morning regarding allegations of sabotage in the forest fires in Hatay: “Our forestry organization has some concerns and doubts about this. Our current job is to control and extinguish the fire.” There are some rumors that there are some eyewitnesses, “he said.
542 PEOPLE HAVE EVACUATED TO DATE
The Presidency of Disaster and Emergency Management (AFAD) has reported that so far 542 people have been evacuated due to the fire that broke out in the Bethlehem district of Hatay and spread over a wide area.
According to the DHA news, a statement was made on AFAD’s Twitter account about the fire that broke out in the forest area in the Sarımazi district of Belen, Hatay district and posed a threat in the rural area and some neighborhoods of the districts. of Iskenderun and Arsuz. Expressing that so far 542 people have been evacuated by AFAD teams, 542 people who were evacuated were located in their homes in a controlled manner. 524 people and 2 airplanes, 4 helicopters, 70 sprinklers, 20 water tanks, 5 bulldozers and construction teams work in the region. and the Regional Directorate of Forestry, AFAD, Firefighters, Health, Gendarmerie Teams, NGOs and volunteers continue their extinction efforts.
MINISTER PAKDEMİRLİ COMES TO HATAY
Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli came to Hatay to monitor and coordinate the ongoing forest fire in Hatay. Minister Pakdemirli made observations on the ground for the first time by helicopter.
According to UAV news, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli, who came to Hatay to monitor and coordinate ongoing forest fires in Belen district and Hatay’s Arsuz district, conducted examinations as he arrived.
Pakdemirli first surveyed the area from above with a helicopter and then continued to survey it from the ground in a vehicle.
MINISTER PAKDEMİRLİ: TAKEN UNDER CONTROL EXCEPT THREE
Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli announced that the forest fires that started yesterday in Hatay and spread to 3 districts were taken under full control.
All but 3 were controlled. I’ll talk about three fires from now on. Istanbul, Bergama, the fire that broke out during the day was controlled. I especially brought greetings from our president to Hatay. The fire that broke out in Kadirli around 1:20 pm was intervened. We have a fire in Andırın. At 09.15 hours the fire was intervened with 3 helicopters, 18 excavators and 3 work machines throughout the day. The fire that broke out in Bethlehem, which continued at different points yesterday and today, saw the first response in 5 minutes. I can say that 1 plane, 6 helicopters, 750 people intervened. This is about 10 percent of our total forest energy. A fire where our weather conditions are very unfavorable for us. The temperature above 30 degrees is extremely dangerous in terms of possible fires. Sadly, our fight continued until this hour, with the wind rising over 70 kilometers and every now and then. Our air vehicles operated on a limited basis.
“SPECIFIC PAYMENTS WILL BE MADE TO RETAIN INJURIES”
The fire whose dangers we experience from time to time. We were affected from time to time in the Müftüler district, Karahüseyinli district, center of the Bethlehem district. Damage assessment studies have begun. Necessary actions will be taken. I have just met with our Minister of the Interior. He stated that certain payments will be made to heal the wounds as soon as possible. There are factories, workplaces, houses, vehicles in the affected area. In certain places, animals are affected. Regarding agricultural lands and animals, our Provincial Directorate of Agriculture works in coordination with the government. Here fires broke out in two places, and they were also intervened. There was news about this fire on social media and other sources. Our governorate is conducting research on this. 3 people were arrested. We have 2 new suspects, 2 people were released. The multifaceted investigation is ongoing. The UAV police agency manages the process.
“FOREST AREAS CANNOT BE REDUCED UNDER CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEE”
Let’s remember Alo 177. There is another highly speculated topic. Since the forests are protected by the constitution, it is not possible to open these forests for development after the fire and use them for tourism or mining. Forest areas cannot be reduced. I ask our citizens to ignore these speculations and laugh. There have been many fires this year. The weather conditions really pushed us. Millions of hectares of land burned in the western and most developed countries of the world, there are fires that last for months. Especially in America, Australia and Brazil faced large fires, loss of life and property was experienced.
“THERE ARE NO INJURIES HARASSED IN THE HOSPITAL”
The absence of loss of life is our greatest comfort at Hatay. The fact that there is no loss of life does not tell us not to lose wildlife or trees. I would like to thank our citizens, especially the people of Hatay, for their dignity in this fire. Our regional deputies demanded the establishment of a forest zone in Hatay. Our ministry will work on this request. I would like to thank each and every forest organization worker who works here with all their hearts with contempt for their lives. First of all, I would like to thank our government, gendarmerie, municipalities and all our public institutions. The priority is fire suppression, we will share information about fires both in the European Fire Brigade Union and on our website. There are no hospitals for the wounded at this time. He has been asked about the sabotage since yesterday, and has also been asked on social media. A versatile investigation is being carried out. When the result is obtained, it is shared with the public.