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Fethiye Times Midweek Edition – Thursday 15th January 2026

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

Curated from various news sources.

Fethiye–Ölüdeniz Route Undergoing Complete Renovation

Fethiye, MUĞLA – Muğla Metropolitan Municipality is continuing comprehensive road, infrastructure and landscaping works on the Fethiye–Ölüdeniz route, with a total investment of 328 million TL. The works are progressing intensively on the 2nd stage, Ovacık–City Center route, while other phases of the project have already been completed.

As part of the large-scale transformation in the Fethiye–Ölüdeniz region, asphalt works have been completed on the 1st stage Patlangıç–Ovacık, 3rd stage Hisarönü–Ölüdeniz, and 4th stage Ölüdeniz–Kayaköy roads. Construction activities continue at full pace on the 2nd stage Ovacık–City Center section.

The overall project includes the laying of 11,000 meters of hot asphalt, 4,200 meters of drinking water lines, 7,000 meters of rainwater drainage lines, and the construction of 4,500 meters of steel guardrails, aiming to significantly improve traffic safety and infrastructure durability.

The 2nd phase, Ovacık–City Center, covers extensive infrastructure and superstructure works, including 7,000 meters of rainwater lines, sidewalk improvements, 3,500 meters of hot asphalt paving, retaining wall construction, roundabout upgrades, and the installation of 500 meters of guardrails.

In the 1st phase, Patlangıç–Ovacık, works included 2,500 meters of PMT pavement material, bituminous base and binder layers, 2,100 meters of guardrails, and 300 meters of curbstone, with an average road width of 15 meters.

The 3rd phase, Hisarönü–Ölüdeniz, saw the completion of 2,650 meters of asphalt concrete and PMT paving, 1,173 meters of guardrails, 2,200 meters of drinking water lines, 2,730 meters of curbs, 1,865 square meters of paving stones, and 2,550 meters of concrete-lined ditches. Additionally, 3,000 meters of motor-friendly barriers were installed across the 1st and 3rd phases.

In the 4th phase, Ölüdeniz–Kayaköy, a 2,000-meter 200 mm ductile iron drinking water line, 2,500 meters of hot asphalt paving, sidewalks, and rainwater drainage lines were completed. Installation of 1,000 meters of guardrails and ditch concrete lining is still ongoing.

President of the Coastal Aegean Municipalities Union and Mayor of Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Ahmet Aras stated that the project is a key part of preparing Muğla for the future.

“Our priority is to create safe, comfortable and sustainable transportation infrastructure. The Fethiye–Ölüdeniz road is one of the busiest routes in our city, both for tourism and daily life. For this reason, we have approached it as a holistic transformation project that improves quality of life,” Aras said.

Emphasising the long-term benefits of the investment, Aras noted that roads, drinking water, rainwater drainage and environmental arrangements were planned together to ensure trouble-free service for many years.

Referring to road investments across Muğla, Mayor Aras added, “In 2025, with an investment of 2 billion 86 million TL, we completed 236,800 meters of new roads and maintenance and repair works on 440,000 meters of existing roads. In 2026, we plan to carry out road works exceeding 521,000 meters with a budget of 4 billion 150 million TL.”

The project is expected to significantly ease transportation, enhance safety and contribute to sustainable urban development in Fethiye and the wider Ölüdeniz region.

Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/fethiye-oludeniz-guzergahi-bastan-sona-yenileniyor

Fethiye Opens Muğla’s First Autism Park

Fethiye, MUĞLA – Fethiye Municipality has officially inaugurated the Fethiye Municipality Niyazi Mete Autism Park, the first and only autism park in Muğla, at a ceremony attended by senior officials, local administrators and citizens.

The opening was held with the participation of CHP Deputy Chairman responsible for Local Governments and Resilient Cities, Gökan Zeybek, Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Aras, CHP Party Council Member Ecevit Keleş, Muğla Member of Parliament Süreyya Öneş Derici, district mayors, municipal representatives and residents of Fethiye.

Designed to support the social, physical and individual development of individuals with autism, the park offers structured, high-quality programmes led by expert instructors. Activities provided at the facility primarily focus on:

Daily living skills
Social integration programmes
Sports and physical activities
Painting and art workshops

Municipal officials emphasised that the park aims not only to support autistic individuals but also to contribute to social awareness and inclusion across the community.

Families who wish to benefit from the services offered at the Niyazi Mete Autism Park can apply through the official website of Fethiye Municipality.

The municipality stated that the project represents an important step toward inclusive local governance and expressed hope that the park will be beneficial for Fethiye and the wider region.

Source: Fethiye Belediye

Heavy Rainfall Changes the Colour of Ölüdeniz

Fethiye, MUĞLA – Heavy rainfall in Fethiye has caused a visible change in the colour of the sea at Ölüdeniz, as muddy water flowing from the surrounding mountains mixed with seawater, turning it brown in some areas.

Heavy Rainfall Changes the Color of Ölüdeniz

The intense rainfall also led to strong winds and waves reaching approximately 3 metres, particularly along Belcekız Beach. The high waves caused damage to several beachfront businesses, while construction machinery was brought in to help reduce the impact of the waves and protect the shoreline.

Despite the hazardous conditions, many citizens came to the beach to watch the powerful waves, capturing the dramatic scenes on their mobile phones.

Authorities have warned that heavy rainfall is expected to continue in the region, urging residents and business owners to remain cautious, especially in coastal and low-lying areas.

Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/saganak-yagis-oludenizin-rengini-degistirdi

Fire at Karagözler Shipyard

Fethiye, MUĞLA – A fire that broke out in a wooden boat in the Karagözler neighborhood of Fethiye quickly spread and completely engulfed the vessel.

According to reports, the fire started for an unknown reason at a shipyard in the area. The flames rapidly spread across the wooden boat. Shipyard workers noticed the fire and reported it to the 112 Emergency Call Center.

Following the notification, multiple fire brigade teams and firefighting units from the Fethiye Forestry Directorate were dispatched to the scene. The teams arrived quickly and intervened in the fire.

Firefighters worked intensively to prevent the flames from spreading to nearby boats and facilities. It was learned that extinguishing and cooling efforts were carried out at the shipyard, and an investigation was launched to determine the cause of the fire.

Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/fethiyede-ahsap-tekne-alevlere-teslim-oldu

Saklıkent Canyon Remains Seydikemer’s Showcase in 2025

Seydikemer, MUĞLA – Located within the borders of Seydikemer district in Muğla and recognised as one of the world’s most unique natural formations, Saklıkent Canyon welcomed 550,183 domestic and foreign tourists in 2025, once again standing out as one of the main driving forces of regional tourism.

A favourite destination for nature lovers throughout the year, Saklıkent Canyon continued its strong performance in attracting visitors, as it has in previous years. With its cool canyon route, striking rock formations, walking trails and surrounding natural beauty, the area appeals to visitors of all ages while making a significant contribution to the local economy.

Seydikemer Mayor B. Önder Akdenizli underlined the canyon’s importance in promoting the district and Turkey as a whole.

“Saklıkent Canyon is one of the most precious natural assets not only of Seydikemer but also of our country,” Mayor Akdenizli said. “The fact that 550,183 domestic and foreign visitors toured our canyon in 2025 once again shows how strong an attraction Saklıkent is. We are continuing our efforts with determination to host our guests in the best possible way, to protect our nature and to ensure sustainable tourism.”

Mayor Akdenizli also emphasised that tourists visiting Saklıkent provide major support to local tradespeople and businesses, strengthening the district’s economy.

Concluding his remarks, Mayor Akdenizli said, “We will continue to share the natural and historical riches of our district, especially Saklıkent, with all our guests. We welcome all our citizens and visitors to Seydikemer.”

Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/saklikent-2025-yilinda-da-seydikemerin-vitrini-oldu

Sea Turtle Conservation Efforts Bear Fruit at İztuzu Beach

Ortaca, MUĞLA – Conservation efforts at İztuzu Beach, one of the world’s most important sea turtle nesting sites in Muğla’s Ortaca district, have produced encouraging results in 2025, according to the Sea Turtle Research, Rescue and Rehabilitation Center (DEKAMER).

Comprehensive protection and rehabilitation activities led to a marked increase in reproductive success and a decline in nest predation rates. Scientific monitoring revealed a steady upward trend in the total number of eggs laid, while fewer nests were targeted by predators, highlighting the effectiveness of sustained conservation practices.

In 2025, injured sea turtles admitted to DEKAMER were successfully treated and returned to the wild, with a rehabilitation success rate of 59.4 percent. Most injuries were linked to human activities such as fishing gear entanglement and boat strikes.

Outreach and education programs reached more than 5,000 people, including students, public officials, and business representatives, while the center welcomed over 50,000 visitors during the year.

A total of 17 rehabilitated turtles were released back into the sea, three of which were fitted with satellite tracking devices to support global research into turtle migration, distribution, and behavior.

DEKAMER officials highlighted that continued monitoring, protection, and public engagement remain critical to ensuring the long-term survival of sea turtles in the region.

Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Turkey Moves to Set 15 as Minimum Age for Social Media

Ankara – Turkey is preparing nationwide regulations that would set 15 as the minimum age for social media use, with broad cross-party support. The legislation, coordinated by AK Party leaders, will also address illegal online betting, digital copyright, and national digital literacy.

Officials describe social media as a national security concern, citing risks such as harmful content, digital addiction, and financial exploitation, particularly among minors. The government plans to integrate digital literacy training into schools and require global tech companies to comply with the same regulatory standards as in Europe and the U.S.

The draft bill is expected to be submitted to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) after final technical and inter-ministerial consultations.

Read the full article here: https://www.dailysabah.com/turkiye/turkiye-lawmakers-push-to-raise-social-media-access-age-to-15/news