Welcome to our pick of last week’s news from Fethiye and around Türkiye.
Curated from various news sources.
NEWS
Firefighting teams battled from land and air as multiple fires broke out amid the exceptional heatwave in Türkiye.
Firefighting Plane Crashes into Bafa Lake During Milas Kısırtı Operation
A firefighting plane affiliated with the Turkish Aeronautical Association (THK), assigned to combat the fires in Milas Kısırtı, crashed into Bafa Lake on Friday. Immediate response efforts by Afad and Umke teams resulted in the successful rescue of all three personnel aboard the aircraft.
The incident occurred as the plane was executing its mission to extinguish a wildfire threatening the Milas Kısırtı region. Emergency response teams, including Afad (Disaster and Emergency Management Authority) and Umke (National Medical Rescue Team), were promptly dispatched to the crash site.
Thanks to the rapid and coordinated efforts of these teams, the pilots were safely extracted from the lake. All three individuals have been transported to a nearby hospital for further medical evaluation and treatment.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and further details will be provided as they become available.
The fire was brought under control by response teams including 4 planes, 4 helicopters, 35 water trucks, and 207 personnel. Cooling operations continued in the affected areas to prevent reignition.
Sources: Fethiye Haber Bülteni/Gerçek Fethiye
Grass Fire in Muğla’s Ula District
In the Akyaka District of Muğla’s Ula District, a grass fire broke out and was swiftly extinguished.
Fire Department and Forestry teams promptly responded to the blaze at İnişdibi Location. The cause of the fire remains undetermined. Thanks to the rapid intervention of the teams, the fire was contained before it could spread to the surrounding area. Fire teams carried out cooling operations to ensure the fire would not reignite.
Source: https://www.gercekfethiye.com/akyaka-daki-yangin-kisa-surede-sonduruldu/78616/
Multiple Forest Fires Erupt in Denizli, Six Caused by Lightning
The Denizli Governorship announced that ten separate forest fires broke out in six different districts on Friday, with six of the fires caused by lightning.
According to the statement, lightning strikes at noon ignited fires in various forest areas, including the Mollaahmet, Yeniköy, and Kelleci neighborhoods of Babadağ district; Nikfer District of Tavas district; Köprübaşı locality of Kale district; Cankurtaran and Kınıklı neighborhoods of Pamukkale district; Akkent of Çal; Kelekçi of Acıpayam; and Kocadere neighborhoods of Honaz.
At the time of the statement, the forest fire in Pamukkale’s Cankurtaran neighborhood had been brought under control, with cooling efforts ongoing. The fight from air and land continued to bring the fires under control as soon as possible the Governorship assured.
Source: https://www.gercekfethiye.com/1-gunde-10-orman-yangini-cikti/78625/
Two British friends killed after quad bike ‘smashes into hotel bus’ in Türkiye
Two British tourists have died in a horror bike crash in Türkiye, their heartbroken relatives have revealed.
Cory Dove and Matthew Steward, both 26, were on holiday in Türkiye when they suffered “multiple traumatic injuries” in the early hours of May 14.
Matthew, from Harwich, Essex, had travelled to popular holiday destination Fethiye two days earlier for a family holiday with his 24-year-old partner Dannielle Rose, along with her daughter from a previous relationship, Ruby, six, and their son Roman, three.
On the night of May 13, Matthew and Cory left the hotel to travel to a shop on a quad bike.
Hours later, Dannielle was informed that the pair had died and was asked to identify the bodies.
You can read the full report here: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/british-tourists-killed-quad-bike-accident-fethiye-turkey-b1164472.html
Golden Horn ‘overfilled with sewage waste’
The Golden Horn, the binding inlet between the Bosphorus Strait and the Marmara Sea, has become severely polluted, posing a significant threat to the marine life and ecosystem of the Marmara Sea, Istanbul Environmental Council Secretary-General Zafer Murat Çetintaş has said.
Aerial photographs depict the extent of sewage waste discharged into the Golden Horn, known as Haliç in Turkish, causing it to emit a foul odor.
Drawing attention to the adverse conditions of the bay, Çetintaş asserted that the pollution is not a result of underground mud surfacing but that the inlet is indeed “overfilled with sewage waste.”
“It is impossible to swim, and the smell is disturbing. Haliç is on the brink of death,” Çetintaş warned, linking the current condition of the Golden Horn to the suspension of the ongoing projects in the bay.
Referring to picnic areas constructed in the areas surrounding the Golden Horn, Çetintaş stressed the impracticability of such activities around the bay because of the unappealing smell and added that authorities “have to spend two times more money in order to revive Haliç.”
Highlighting the waste streaming down the Marmara Sea, Çetintaş stressed the current situation of Haliç as one of the leading causes of mucilage in the Marmara Sea.
Touching on the upcoming European Olympics that will be held in Istanbul in 2027, the secretary general contemplated the responsibility of disclosing the current state of the Golden Horn during this event of capital importance.
Source: Hürriyet Daily News
New tramline to connect central Istanbul districts
The Istanbul Municipality council approved a project for a new tramline to connect three districts of the city’s Asian side.
The new tramline named “AnadoluTRAM” is designed to link the districts of Üsküdar, Kadıköy and Maltepe.
The project, expected to be installed within 17 months, will endorse the improvement of traffic flow, as the minibuses occupying the road from Kadıköy to Maltepe will be abolished and the line full of parked cars will no longer pose an obstacle.
According to the joint report of the Traffic and Transportation Commission and Public Works and Reconstruction Committee, wheeled vehicles would be removed from traffic on the line route and street layouts would have greater emphasis on pedestrian priority.
Expected to be 21.3 kilometers long and consist of 33 stops, the line will start from the Üsküdar Square, extending to the Kadıköy dock and on to the district of Maltepe.
The tramline will connect with the two other main metro lines, Ümraniye-Ataşehir-Göztepe and Dudullu-Bostancı.
Source: Hürriyet Daily News
SPORT
Thank you to Brian Lloyd for the sport update.
Fethiyespor
League 2 Season Draw: Fethiyespor in the Beyaz (White) Group for 2024/2025
Fethiyespor will compete in the Beyaz (White) group for the upcoming 2024/2025 season.
The season kicks off on the weekend of August 31st/September 1st. While the fixture list isn’t out yet, it’s typically released in July. Check out the photo of the draw for more details.
Fethiyespor President Esat Bakırcı Outlines New Structuring Process
President Esat Bakırcı of Fethiyespor met with members of the press at the club’s facilities on Friday to discuss various aspects of the club’s future direction and current challenges.
In his address, Bakırcı emphasized the necessity of focusing on player development over player sales. “Managing a football club has become increasingly challenging under current conditions. Since taking office, we have prioritized clearing past debts, including taxes and social security obligations, with substantial support from Mayor Alim Karaca and local businesses,” Bakırcı said.
Highlighting the unsustainable nature of relying solely on player transfers for revenue, Bakırcı stated, “Football is like a sack with a hole in the bottom. You must constantly find new sources of income. Training and developing our own players are crucial for long-term stability and success.”
Looking forward, Bakırcı announced a new structuring process aimed at rejuvenating the team with younger, ambitious talent while maintaining a focus on on-field success. “Fethiyespor will always have goals. We will lower our team’s average age and increase the number of players hungry for success,” he noted. He also emphasized the importance of stability in management, coaching, and staff as vital to achieving their long-term objectives.
Bakırcı confirmed the club’s commitment to long-term planning by announcing a contract extension for head coach Selahaddin Dinçel, ensuring his leadership until the end of the 2027-2028 season. “We believe in Coach Dinçel’s vision and dedication to Fethiyespor. Extending his contract solidifies our commitment to technical stability, a key pillar for sustained success,” Bakırcı concluded.
With these strategic changes, Bakırcı aims to position Fethiyespor not only for immediate success but also for enduring prosperity in Turkish football.
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Euro 2024 Kicks Off
Euro 2024 has officially begun, igniting excitement across Türkiye. The Turkish national team is set to showcase its talent and ambition in the prestigious tournament.
Türkiye’s matches will be closely watched by fans eager to see their team advance through the group stages and beyond.
Stay tuned for coverage of Türkiye’s journey in Euro 2024.
Turkish Lira (TL) exchange rates
The British Pound bought 41.49 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 41.16 TL.
The US Dollar bought 32.74 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 32.34 TL.
The Euro bought 35.11 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 34.95 TL.
Source: exchangerates.org.uk
Weather Forecast
Here’s your weather forecast for the week ahead.
Source: Living Earth
