Authorities in Turkiye’s northwestern Eskisehir province reported that as a result of several wildfires that rage in both the central and western regions of the nation where the temperatures are so high, at least 10 firefighters and rescue workers died and 14 others were hurt in the battle.
Five forest workers and five rescuers who were attempting to control the fire were killed, according to the Turkish minister of agriculture and forestry Ibrahim Yumakli, who was a trapped firefighter earlier in the day.
The group of firefighters were quickly transported to a hospital where 10 of them died as a result of sudden wind changes in direction.
According to the minister, 14 others are still receiving medical care.
We have lost five forest workers and five [rescuers] reportedly, Yumakli reported to Turkish television.
The group was “burned alive,” according to the Turkish news website BirGun.
There are no words to express our grief, according to local lawmaker Nebi Hatipoglu’s post on X.
Since Sunday, the sweltering conditions in Turkiye have caused wildfires to spread between Istanbul and the capital, Ankara, with the latter forcing the evacuation of several villages.
On Thursday, according to Minister Yumakli, extreme heat and tumultuous wind conditions were also anticipated.
“We are experiencing extraordinary temperatures and extreme wind shifts beginning tomorrow. I once more urge all 86 million people to be extra cautious and vigilant,” he said.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey, praised the victims of the “to protect our forests at the cost of their lives.”
In a message posted on social media, Erdogan said, “I pray for God’s mercy on our brothers and sisters who fought for our forests.”
According to the nation’s justice minister, two prosecutors have been assigned to conduct an investigation into the incident.
The number of wildfire deaths in the nation this year is up to 13 thanks to the deaths reported on Wednesday.
In a wildfire that raged near the Izmir province town of Odemis earlier this month, an elderly man and two forest workers were killed.
Source: Aljazeera
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