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Those who saw smoke rising in the forest area in the Sarımazı district of the Bethlehem district reported to the authorities.
Following notification, the water tank, water tank and bulldozer were directed to the region by teams from the Kahramanmaraş Regional Forest Directorate.
Some settlements were evacuated by security forces for precautionary reasons. A building and the vehicles in front of it were damaged by fire.
The flames also spread to the forest area in the Arsuz district with the Şeker and İsmet İnönü neighborhoods in İskenderun district and a warehouse area.
The Belen-İskenderun and Belen-Arsuz highways, which were closed to traffic due to a fire, were reopened in a controlled manner.
Citizens also assisted in firefighting efforts.
While aerial intervention to the fire is suspended due to the intensification of the wind, firefighting and forest management teams continue to intervene despite the dark weather.
The areas affected by the fire were seen from the air with a drone.
EXPLANATION OF THE GOVERNOR OF HATAY
Hatay Governor Rahmi Doğan arrived at the fire zone and received information from the authorities and investigated.
Although aerial intervention to the fire was suspended due to the intensification of the wind, firefighting and forest management teams continued to intervene, despite the dark weather.
“The fire resulted from the explosion of the transformer”
In the statement made by the Hatay Governorate, it was reported that the fire broke out around 10:00.
In the statement, which said that the fire intervention continued, the following was recorded:
“The forest fire that occurred as a result of the explosion of the transformer in the forest area near the settlements between the Iskenderun and Bethlehem districts, in the Sarımazı neighborhood between TOKI and the İssume region, is intervened with planes, helicopters, sprinklers and bulldozers.
Efforts continue to control the fire, which grows with the effect of strong winds. Evacuation procedures have been initiated in settlements at risk. Fire extinguishing work continues rapidly to control the fire, which has difficulties in the intervention of the air due to the strong winds. “
“We are evacuating all the houses where the fire is near”
The mayor of Bethlehem, İbrahim Gül, told the AA correspondent that the fire started at 3 different points in the Bethlehem district.
Stating that the fire spread to the Iskenderun and Arsuz districts, Gul said: “We are evacuating all the houses in our district where the fire is nearby. We have 8 minor injuries, one of whom is a child. The intervention of the teams keep going”. He said.
Gul also thanked the citizens who intervened in the fire.
On the other hand, it was reported that the Iskenderun Prosecutor General’s Office launched an investigation into the fire.
The statement stated that all aspects of the fire were investigated and that work was continuing.
EXPLANATION BY MINISTER PAKDEMİRLİ
Bekir Pakdemirli, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, who is in Gördes, Manisa to participate in a number of programs, made statements about the forest fire in Hatay. Stating that there were difficulties in intervening in the fire due to the strong winds, Pakdemirli said: “The fire exit time is 10.15am. We gave the first response at 10.20am. The humidity is at a low level of 18 percent, the temperature is above 30 degrees and unfortunately the wind is blowing 70 kilometers. The fire actually broke out in the residential area in terms of its main elements and started as a fire that our Directorate General of Forestry also supported in extinguishing. Of course, 2 planes, 4 helicopters, 122 sprinklers, 10 bulldozer construction crews, and 500 people were on fire. “We have shipped and the studies continue. However, I would like to say that intermittent intervention on aircraft is possible due to wind conditions.
‘WE REQUEST THE EVACUATION OF TWO VILLAGES’
Minister Pakdemirli noted that helicopter guns were thrown to the tail due to high winds and therefore unsafe flights could be experienced, saying: “Due to strong winds in the fire area, our helicopters sometimes land on the ground because they can cause unsafe flights. Today, unfortunately, it is not a crime against our plane, but we have experienced a malfunction. “One of the water inlet covers on our launch plane broke due to the long length of wave in the sea. Our other aircraft continues its operations as long as possible during possible weather conditions. But, unfortunately, we experienced such a malfunction in one of our aircraft. “
Minister Pakdemirli stated that the evacuation works started in the two villages where the fire advanced and said: “Right now, the fire is moving towards the villages of Nergizlik and Kışlak. We request the evacuation of these two villages. As I said before , aerial intervention cannot be carried out due to strong wind. It can be done to a very limited extent in the residential area. Unfortunately, damage to homes, workplaces and vehicles occurred. Damage assessment studies will be conducted. Last time We met with our teams 5 minutes ago, they said they were working on collecting the fire at one point and that if they could, they would continue with their work to control it quickly.
“70 citizens affected by the fire”
Minister Pakdemirli said: “The flames were effective in an area of 300 hectares. 7 apartments, 11 houses, 14 workplaces, 8 factories, 4 vehicles, 3 warehouses, 35 beehives and 70 citizens, especially in the first hours of the fire. and the ongoing fire. was affected. “he used the expressions.
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