Welcome to our midweek round-up of the latest news and updates from Fethiye and across Turkey.
Curated from various news sources.
Landslide Closes Seydikemer Road, Teams Working to Reopen
Seydikemer, MUĞLA – Work is continuing uninterrupted after a landslide struck the road connecting the Bağlıağaç and Arsa neighbourhoods in the Seydikemer district, cutting off transport links in the area.
According to local officials, there were no casualties in the incident.
Following the landslide, teams from Seydikemer Municipality and Muğla Metropolitan Municipality were dispatched to the scene. Heavy machinery has been deployed as crews work intensively to clear debris and reopen the road to traffic as soon as possible.
The affected area was also filmed from the air using a drone, revealing the extent of the damage.
Bağlıağaç Neighborhood Headman İsa Saçlı, speaking to Fethiye TV, said the teams responded quickly after the incident.
“We are saddened. At least there were no casualties,” Saçlı said. “Initially, it was reported as a river flood, but later the flood turned into a landslide. We withdrew the teams; we could only observe. Thankfully, there were no casualties.”
Municipal teams have opened alternative routes to maintain access, while asphalt paving works are expected to take four to five months to complete.
Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/seydikemerde-heyelan-sonrasi-ekipler-calismalarini-surduruyor
Fire First Aid Training Held at FTSO
Fethiye, MUĞLA – Fire First Aid Training was conducted at the Fethiye Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FTSO) as part of ongoing occupational health and safety efforts.
The training was delivered by teams from the Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Fire Department Fethiye Group Command. During the first phase of the programme, participants received theoretical instruction covering fire prevention measures in buildings, actions to be taken in the event of a fire, different types of fires and appropriate intervention methods.
Commenting on the training, FTSO Chairman Osman Çıralı said the chamber takes all necessary precautions regarding occupational health and safety within its service building.
“With drills and training conducted at regular intervals in our chamber, we aim to increase our employees’ awareness of occupational health and safety issues and to ensure they make the right interventions in possible emergencies,” Çıralı said.
Officials stated that such training programmes will continue periodically to strengthen preparedness and safety awareness among staff.
Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/ftsoda-yangina-ilk-mudahale-egitimi-yapildi
Renovation Work Continues on Bodrum’s Water Supply Lines
Bodrum, MUĞLA – Renovation work on frequently bursting water supply lines in Bodrum is continuing as part of a comprehensive infrastructure upgrade programme led by the Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Water and Sewerage Administration (MUSKİ).
The ongoing works were inspected on site by MUSKİ Deputy General Manager Nuri Kali and the institution’s technical teams.
In a statement, the MUSKİ General Directorate said the works are being carried out in line with the priorities of Ahmet Aras, Mayor of Muğla Metropolitan Municipality, to ensure that Bodrum’s drinking and utility water needs are met in a healthy and uninterrupted manner.
As part of the replacement of the South and North transmission lines, ductile iron pipeline construction in the neighbourhoods of Gümbet, Yahşi, Akçaalan, Geriş and Torba was inspected.
Teams also reviewed asphalt paving works completed in İslamhaneleri Neighborhood and examined the connections of the Pirenburnu wells, along with ongoing construction in Bahçelievler Neighborhood under the Turgutreis Reverse Osmosis Plant project.
Officials stated that the suitability of the works, filling and compaction processes, and occupational health and safety measures were carefully checked during the inspections. Consultations were also held to ensure that the projects are completed as quickly as possible.
Authorities emphasised that efforts will continue across Bodrum to strengthen the ageing infrastructure and reduce water main bursts, particularly during peak demand periods.
Council of State Suspends Coastal Plan for Aydın and Muğla
Muğla, Turkey – The Sixth Chamber of the Council of State has ruled to suspend the implementation of the 1/50,000 scale Integrated Coastal Area Plan for Aydın and Muğla provinces, following a lawsuit filed by Muğla Metropolitan Municipality.
The plan, approved in 2020 and updated in 2023 by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, covers more than 1,100 kilometres of coastline along the Aegean and Mediterranean shores.
The 1/50,000 scale Integrated Coastal Area Plan was designed as a broad planning framework guiding land use, tourism and infrastructure development across the Aydın and Muğla coastlines.
Rather than being a direct construction plan, it set out long-term strategies intended to balance coastal development with environmental protection. According to the Ministry, the aim was to reduce conflicts between sectors such as tourism, fishing and aquaculture, while promoting sustainable development.
Muğla Metropolitan Municipality filed its lawsuit on April 14, 2021, seeking the annulment of the plan. The municipality raised several objections, including:
- Proposing additional facilities without scientific studies on the capacity of existing coastal facilities
- Material inaccuracies in information regarding current and planned developments
- Failure to analyse increased yacht capacity in the explanatory report
- Definitions in the plan that were not aligned with the Coastal Law and related regulations
- Lack of clarity on how permitted landfill sizes for marina construction were determined
- Failure to consult relevant administrations during preparation of the plan
In its ruling, the Council of State cited the absence of a legally required Strategic Environmental Assessment Report and stated that issues highlighted in the expert report required clarification.
Ahmet Aras, President of the Coastal Aegean Municipalities Union and Mayor of Muğla Metropolitan Municipality, described the suspension as an important step in protecting the region’s coastline.
“We have legally objected to an implementation that would open the coasts of Muğla and Aydın to profiteering,” Aras said. “Following the legal process, the Council of State issued a stay of execution order. We will continue our struggle to protect Muğla’s uniquely beautiful bays and leave them as a green legacy for the future. These bays, where the Blue Voyage begins, will continue to be the meeting point of green and blue.”
The court’s decision marks a significant development in the ongoing debate over coastal planning and environmental protection in the region.
Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/buyuksehirden-mugla-aydin-kiyilarini-koruyan-dava
AFAD trains volunteer dogs for disaster response in Istanbul
Istanbul, Turkey – A new initiative led by the Istanbul Governorate is strengthening the city’s disaster response capacity by training volunteer-owned dogs for search and rescue missions.
Under the project, 19 dogs volunteered by their owners have begun specialised training delivered by the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) Istanbul Unit Directorate, in cooperation with certified trainers from six district municipalities.
The programme is being implemented within the scope of Istanbul’s Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Plans (IRAP) and aims to increase the number of active search and rescue dogs in the city, currently 28.
AFAD coordinated with the municipalities of Kadıköy, Maltepe, Ataşehir, Kartal, Beykoz and Pendik to identify families willing to participate. Dogs aged between four and 12 months were assessed on a voluntary basis, with their living conditions reviewed and health screenings conducted.
Following an initial awareness and suitability process, more than 1,000 applicants were gradually narrowed down to 60 candidates, with 19 dogs ultimately selected for training.
AFAD instructor Ceyhun Ersöz said priority was given to dogs with strong hunting instincts, courage and no prior health issues.
The selected dogs are now undergoing intensive instruction focused on operating in disaster environments, including rubble searches and victim detection. Training is being conducted jointly by AFAD teams and municipal trainers to prepare the animals for real-world emergency scenarios.
The initiative also includes training for dog owners, who will serve as handlers. The full programme lasts approximately one year, after which the dogs will be certified for search and rescue duties and their owners formally designated as operators.
Ersöz noted that search and rescue dogs played a critical role during the February 6, 2023, Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes, significantly enhancing the speed and accuracy of rescue efforts when used alongside other search methods.
Nationwide, Turkey currently has 104 certified search and rescue dogs, around one-quarter of which are based in Istanbul. Officials say the new initiative will help mobilise additional resources during future disasters while engaging local communities in preparedness efforts.
Source: Daily Sabah
F-16 Crashes Near İzmir–Istanbul Highway, Pilot Killed
Balıkesir, Turkey – An F-16 fighter jet from the Balıkesir 9th Main Jet Base Command crashed near the İzmir–Istanbul highway during a night mission flight, authorities confirmed.
In a statement, the Ministry of National Defense announced that the pilot, Major İbrahim Bolat, lost his life in the accident.
Balıkesir Governor İsmail Ustaoğlu said the crash occurred during an operational mission flight. Debris from the aircraft was scattered across sections of the İzmir–Istanbul highway, which was closed to traffic as security forces and investigation teams began work at the scene.
In its initial statement, the Ministry said radio contact with the F-16 was lost from 00:56 onwards. In a post shared on its official X account, the Ministry stated that the cause of the accident would be determined following investigations by an accident inquiry team.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/turkce/articles/c9dn0zz6j6do
January Rainfall in Turkey Exceeds Historical Averages
Ankara, Turkey – Turkey experienced a significant increase in rainfall in January, with both precipitation levels and duration exceeding historical averages, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
Figures released by the Ministry’s General Directorate of Agricultural Reform show that nationwide rainfall rose above both recent averages and January 2025 levels. The increase was particularly notable in southeastern and central Anatolia.
Southeastern Anatolia recorded an average of 135 millimetres of rainfall, while central Anatolia received 62.5 millimetres — marking the highest January level in the past decade for the region.
The consistent above-average rainfall has strengthened soil moisture levels and supported crop emergence across the country, signalling a strong recovery compared to last year.
In wheat-growing regions nationwide, emergence is largely complete. Plants are predominantly in the two to three leaf stage and have begun entering the tillering phase.
In the Marmara region, sowing has been completed, with wheat showing early leaf development and localised tillering. Adequate soil moisture has ensured smooth emergence in provinces including Bilecik, Edirne, Istanbul, Kocaeli, Çanakkale and Tekirdağ.
In the Aegean and Mediterranean regions, crops are developing normally, and no widespread drought risk has been reported.
Snow cover in central and eastern Anatolia has provided additional benefits, enabling crops to undergo vernalization and dormancy — natural processes that strengthen plant growth.
Meanwhile, in the Black Sea region, winter maintenance, pruning and fertilisation of hazelnut, tea and kiwi orchards are continuing under favourable climatic conditions.
The Ministry stated that winter crops are developing normally across Turkey and that no significant agricultural risks are expected in the coming months.
Source: Daily Sabah
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