Turkey: The fire near a thermal power plant was brought under control

Fire set threatened a thermal power plant in southwestern Turkey has been brought under control, Local authorities said today, as firefighters are fighting for the eighth day to reduce forest fires that have broken out in coastal parts of the country.

“The flames reached the wall of the power plant last night. “The fire has now been extinguished,” Milas Mayor Muhammad Tokat told Reuters.

Two planes and four helicopters helped firefighters on the ground extinguish the flames, he said, and the thermal power plant resumed operations.

Authorities say at least 150 fires broke out in southwestern Turkey last week, the worst in years, due to high summer temperatures, low humidity and strong winds. Eight people have lost their lives and thousands have been forced to flee, including tourists.

Most of the fires have been extinguished but local officials, many of whom belong to the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), complain that the government’s response has been slow and inadequate.

Flammable tanks at the factory were emptied for precautionary reasons, a Demiroren news agency reporter said, and ditches were opened as fire zones.

Firefighters from Spain and Croatia joined teams from Russia, Iran, Ukraine and Azerbaijan this week to fight the fire, after Turkey sought European support.

Opposition parties have blamed President Tayyip Erdogan and his government for reducing firefighting resources over the years. Thousands took to social media to urge Erdogan to step down, while others criticized the lack of resources and the lack of preparation, as they call it.

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