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Fethiye Times Midweek Edition – Thursday 18th December 2025

Welcome to our midweek round-up of the latest news and updates from Fethiye and across Turkey.

Curated from various news sources.

Hazardous Waste Safely Disposed of Through Fethiye Collection Centre

Fethiye, MUĞLA – A total of 3,420 kilograms of hazardous waste was safely removed and disposed of through the Fethiye Municipality Waste Collection Center, ensuring that dangerous materials did not harm the environment.

Municipal officials said the waste, consisting of various types and quantities of hazardous materials, was transferred to licensed disposal facilities using proper waste management practices. By separating these materials from general household waste, the process helped prevent environmental pollution and reduced risks to public health.

The municipality encouraged residents to play an active role in protecting nature by delivering hazardous waste from their homes to the Fethiye Municipality Waste Collection Center. Accepted items include paint and paint cans, inks, adhesives, solvents and resins, insulation materials, detergents, fluorescent lamps and light bulbs, as well as unused or expired medicines.

Officials stressed that responsible disposal of hazardous waste is essential for safeguarding the environment and called on the public to continue supporting sustainable waste management efforts.

Source: Fethiye Belediyesi

Comprehensive Maintenance and Upgrades Continue in Cemeteries Across Muğla

Muğla, MUĞLA – Muğla Metropolitan Municipality continued its comprehensive cleaning, maintenance, repair and landscaping works in cemeteries across the province, aiming to provide a cleaner, more orderly and more accessible environment for citizens.

As part of the ongoing efforts, municipal teams carried out regular cleaning and maintenance in cemetery areas, while benches were installed at locations identified according to needs and public requests, allowing visitors to rest and visit graves more comfortably.

The works also included tree pruning to ensure safety and visual order, as well as regular spraying to combat weeds, helping to maintain the cemeteries in a tidy and well-kept condition.

Muğla Metropolitan Municipality officials stated that maintenance and improvement works in cemeteries would continue without interruption, underlining the importance of creating peaceful and respectful spaces for citizens to remember their loved ones.

Source: Fethiye TV

Drifting Sailboat Rescued Off Datça Coast

Datça, MUĞLA – A 10-meter-long sailboat carrying two people was rescued off the coast of Datça after drifting due to engine failure.

The incident occurred near İskandil Burnu, where the sailboat became stranded in open waters. Teams from the Coast Guard General Directorate quickly responded, deploying the KIYEM-6 fast rescue boat to tow the vessel to safety.

The sailboat was successfully brought to Kumbahçe, Bodrum, and both passengers were reported safe and unharmed. Authorities reminded sailors to maintain proper engine checks and safety equipment before setting out to prevent similar incidents.

Source: https://www.gercekfethiye.com/datca-aciklarinda-suruklenen-yelkenli-tekne-kurtarildi/113002/

Rainwater Drainage Work Underway in Fethiye Beşkaza Square

Fethiye, MUĞLA – Work has begun on a second rainwater drainage channel in Beşkaza Square, Fethiye, as part of ongoing efforts to prevent rainwater accumulation and flooding during heavy rainfall.

The project is being carried out jointly by teams from the Muğla Metropolitan Municipality MUSKİ General Directorate and Fethiye Municipality. The new channel will complement the existing drainage system, ensuring faster and more efficient removal of rainwater from the area.

Officials urged residents and visitors to exercise caution around temporary arrangements during the works and noted that infrastructure improvement projects will continue across different parts of the city to enhance safety and urban resilience.

Source: https://www.gercekfethiye.com/fethiye-beskaza-meydani-nda-yagmur-suyu-tahliye-calismasi/112997/?p=2

Sinkholes Multiply Across Konya Plain as Drought and Groundwater Loss Deepen

Konya, TURKEY – Hundreds of sinkholes have appeared across Turkey’s drought-stricken Konya Plain, with new collapses opening in the parched agricultural heartland and raising alarm among farmers and authorities.

A recent assessment by Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) identified 684 sinkholes across the Konya Plain, a key wheat-producing region often described as the country’s breadbasket. Newly released drone footage shows vast craters puncturing fields and splitting the landscape.

Experts attribute the phenomenon primarily to climate change, prolonged drought and intensive groundwater extraction. Heavy irrigation—particularly for sugar beet and corn—has sharply accelerated depletion in the Konya Basin. Geological studies indicate the groundwater table in parts of Konya has dropped tens of metres over recent decades.

Konya Technical University reports that more than 20 large new sinkholes have formed in the past year alone in the Karapınar district. Some measure over 100 feet wide and plunge hundreds of feet deep, posing severe risks to nearby farmland and infrastructure.

The crisis coincides with worsening national water stress. NASA’s Earth Observatory has warned that Turkey is experiencing severe drought, noting that water reservoirs fell to their lowest levels in 15 years in 2021.

Local outlet Turkey Today reports that sinkholes in Karapınar are already threatening livelihoods, with some farmers losing cropland or abandoning high-risk fields amid fears of sudden collapse.

In response, Turkish authorities have stepped up monitoring across the Konya Basin and launched initiatives to curb illegal well drilling, as officials and scientists warn that without significant water management reforms, the sinkholes are likely to keep spreading.

Source: Yahoo News

Two-year-old lost his life after being struck by grandfather’s car

Fethiye, MUĞLA – A tragic accident that occurred in Fethiye plunged the district into mourning after a two-year-old child lost his life when he was accidentally struck by his grandfather’s car.

The incident took place in the evening in the Karaçulha neighbourhood. Musa Çağan was leaving his garden in a car when he unintentionally hit his grandson, Muhammet Dursun, who was walking nearby. It was reported that the grandfather did not see the child at the time of the accident.

Severely injured, little Muhammet was rushed to a private hospital by his relatives. Despite all efforts by doctors, the young boy could not be saved and later died at the hospital.

Following the incident, Muhammet Dursun’s body was taken to the Fethiye State Hospital morgue. Police launched an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the accident.

The heartbreaking loss deeply saddened the local community, with many expressing condolences to the grieving family.

Source: https://en.haberler.com/tragic-incident-in-fethiye-a-2-year-old-child-has-2178228/

Harsh winter conditions affect daily life in Turkey’s Kars

Kars, TURKEY – A prolonged period of heavy snowfall and plunging temperatures in Kars province has significantly affected both wildlife and rural life, with brown bears entering hibernation, wetlands freezing over, and livestock farmers coping with harsh winter conditions.

In the forests around Sarıkamış, many brown bears have retreated into their dens following recent snowfall. Research teams from the KuzeyDoğa Association, which has monitored wildlife in Kars and Erzurum since 2006, confirmed that two bears tracked via satellite transmitters have already begun hibernation. Scientific Coordinator Emrah Çoban explained that such snowfall acts as a natural signal for bears to start winter dormancy, which can last between 50 and 130 days, depending on temperature and food availability.

Elsewhere, the extreme cold has frozen Lavaş Lake in Arpaçay district and several smaller ponds and streams, transforming the landscape into striking winter scenery. The severe weather has also impacted daily life, with nighttime temperatures dropping to -10°C, icicles forming on buildings, and farmers facing increasing challenges.

Despite the harsh conditions, local livestock breeders continue their work to protect and care for their animals. In Yağbasan village, cattle breeder Göktürk Öztürk described the routine of feeding animals, letting them outside for fresh air, and ensuring poultry and calves are not confined for prolonged periods, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of rural communities during winter.

The combination of heavy snowfall, frozen wetlands, and hibernating wildlife underscores the dramatic seasonal changes shaping life in Kars province each winter.

Source: Daily Sabah