Welcome to our pick of last week’s news from Fethiye and around Turkey.
Curated from various news sources.
NEWS
Severe Weather Batters Muğla as Flooding, Storms and Rescues Hit Multiple Districts
Fethiye, MUĞLA – Heavy rainfall and stormy weather across Muğla province caused flooding, rising streams, transport disruption and emergency rescues in several districts, including Fethiye, Seydikemer, Milas and Bodrum.
Heavy rainfall that has been intermittently affecting Muğla for the past week has disrupted daily life across the region, causing flooding and inundations in many areas
Waves Rise in Yanıklar Stream
In Fethiye’s Yanıklar neighbourhood, intense rainfall and strong winds caused dramatic waves to form where the Yanıklar Stream meets the sea. Footage captured by a local resident on a mobile phone shows waves crashing violently onto the shoreline due to the combined force of the storm and heavy rain.
The resident who sent the video commented:
“The Yanıklar Stream is expressing its anger. These are the views of the Yanıklar Stream from Tuana’s perspective.”
Members of the public wishing to share footage or information can contact the Fethiye TV WhatsApp Tip Line: 0535 943 45 45.
Çatalarık Junction Turns into a Stream Bed
Following heavy rainfall in Fethiye, large puddles formed at the Çatalarık Junction, turning parts of the roadway into a temporary stream bed. Drivers were urged to proceed with caution due to standing water accumulating on the road surface, increasing the risk of accidents.
Flooding in Seydikemer: Houses Evacuated
Following heavy rainfall in the Seydikemer district, severe flooding occurred in the Çukurincir neighbourhood after the Eşen River overflowed. The full scale of the disaster became apparent in the morning, with many greenhouses flooded and houses near the river affected.
As a precaution, approximately 25 homes were evacuated. Some residents moved their animals to safer areas using their own means, while Seydikemer Municipality police teams continued making announcements urging residents to leave at-risk homes. Municipal vehicles also remained on duty to assist with evacuations.
In addition to the flooding, water levels at Seki Dam rose sharply due to ongoing rainfall. As a result, sections of the road in the Şeytanlıdere area, which provides access to Urluca Bridge and Yayla Patlangıç, were submerged. Crossings on the affected route were closed to traffic to prevent accidents and ensure public safety.
Fire Department Rescues Sheep in Milas
Teams from the Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Fire Department were dispatched to the Güneş neighbourhood of Milas after reports that sheep were trapped in deep mud. Due to the rough terrain, fire crews were unable to reach the area by vehicle and had to proceed on foot.
Investigations revealed that approximately 30 sheep were stuck in the mud. Firefighters successfully rescued the animals, though initial reports confirmed that two sheep had died. It was learned that the flock had panicked while grazing and became trapped while attempting to flee.
Boats Swept Ashore in Bodrum
In Bodrum, storms and heavy rainfall caused boats anchored in the bay to be swept ashore. Intermittent downpours led to the overflow of a stream on the Bodrum–Kızılağaç road, forcing it to close to traffic. Heavy water accumulation also caused a garden wall to collapse.
Authorities reported that 65 cubic metres of rain per square metre fell in Bodrum. Strong winds, reaching storm force at times, pushed a 4.5-metre rowboat and a 5-metre semi-cabin pleasure boat ashore in Bitez Bay, causing minor damage. The vessels are expected to be salvaged once weather conditions improve.
Due to the adverse weather, ferry services between Bodrum, Datça and the Greek island of Kos were also cancelled.
Köyceğiz Hot Springs Submerged
As rainwater carried by streams flowed into Köyceğiz Lake, water levels rose significantly, partially submerging the Köyceğiz coastline.
Among the areas affected is Sultaniye Hot Springs, located directly opposite the town on the lakeshore. The open-air sulphur pools have been completely submerged by floodwaters as the lake expanded beyond its normal boundaries.
Despite the flooding, activity continues in the indoor pool section of the hot springs. Large numbers of local and foreign visitors seeking healing are still travelling to the site, walking through water reaching up to their waists to access the indoor facilities.
Municipal and emergency teams across Muğla remain on high alert as the region continues to deal with the effects of severe weather.
Source: Fethiye TV
Initial Flood Damage in Muğla Puts Thousands of Decares of Farmland at Risk
Muğla, MUĞLA – The Muğla Governorship has announced the first official damage assessment following days of heavy rainfall that triggered floods and water inundations across the province.
In a written statement, the Governorship confirmed that torrential rain has affected Muğla and its districts for several days, leading to significant agricultural, residential and infrastructure losses. According to initial findings, approximately 5,773 decares of agricultural land and 550 decares of greenhouses may have been damaged.
The statement reported extreme rainfall across multiple districts, with the following totals measured per square metre:
- Menteşe: 127 kg
- Bodrum: 109 kg
- Dalaman: 140 kg
- Köyceğiz: 158 kg
- Marmaris: 134 kg
- Seydikemer: 112 kg
- Ula: 123 kg
From the onset of the severe weather, a large-scale emergency response was activated. Authorities deployed 759 personnel, 499 vehicles, 126 construction machines, 100 motor pumps and 36 submersible pumps to respond rapidly to flooding and related hazards.
According to the Governorship’s initial assessment:
- 47 homes and businesses were affected by flooding, including 3 trout farms
- 2 vehicles sustained damage
- 20 houses were evacuated as a precaution
- 3 barns were damaged
- 8 small livestock, 100 beehives, 50 poultry and 35 tonnes of farmed fish were lost
In addition, excessive rainfall caused damage to bridges and roads at 14 locations, while landslides occurred in two areas, forcing traffic to be diverted to alternative routes.
The Governorship stated that response and recovery efforts are continuing under its coordination, with the participation of district governorships, municipalities, the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, AFAD, and other public institutions and organisations.
Authorities said monitoring and field work will continue as further assessments are carried out to determine the full scale of the damage across Muğla.
Heavy Rain Turns Gökova Bay Brown as Muddy Water Flows into the Sea
Muğla, MUĞLA – The colour of Gökova Bay has changed dramatically following days of heavy rainfall across Muğla, as muddy water flowing from mountain slopes and rainwater channels poured into the sea.
After five consecutive days of rain, residents and visitors taking advantage of the warmer weather gathered at Akyaka Beach and Akçapınar Beach. However, the usually clear waters were replaced by a brown, murky surface caused by sediment-laden runoff reaching the coastline.
The Kadın Azmağı Stream was also affected, as muddy water flowing through the stream spread into the bay, further discolouring the sea. The influx of sediment from the mountains and drainage channels turned large sections of the bay’s surface brown, creating a striking contrast to its normal turquoise appearance.
Authorities are continuing to monitor water conditions in the area as rainfall and runoff continue to affect coastal and inland waterways across Muğla.
Source: https://www.gercekfethiye.com/mugla-da-gokova-korfezi-nin-rengi-degisti/116487/?p=5
Antalya Records a Year’s Worth of Rainfall in Just 40 Days as Flooding and Damage Spread Across the Region
Antalya has experienced an unprecedented start to 2026, with rainfall in the first 40 days already equalling the total amount recorded throughout all of 2025. Around 550 kilograms of rain per square metre has fallen since January 1, far above seasonal norms, according to the 4th Regional Directorate of Meteorology.
Prolonged and at times intense rainfall has caused widespread flooding in homes, workplaces and agricultural greenhouses, prompting district authorities to begin damage assessments. Transportation has also been disrupted, particularly on the Kemer–Kumluca highway, where landslides and road subsidence have forced traffic into a single lane.
Meteorological officials reported that rainfall has been continuous since the start of the year, with the heaviest precipitation concentrated in Antalya’s western districts, including Kemer, Kumluca and Finike. Higher elevations have received snow and sleet, while temperatures have remained above seasonal averages.
The most recent impact was seen in Serik, where heavy rain caused the Köprüçay River to overflow, flooding nearby businesses, farmland and roads. Public areas such as the Şahin Tepesi Picnic Area were temporarily closed for safety reasons.
With rainfall expected to continue, authorities have warned residents to remain alert, as Antalya faces one of its most intense early-year rainy periods in recent history.
Source: https://www.dailysabah.com/turkiye/turkiyes-antalya-hits-last-years-rainfall-total-in-40-days/news
Giant Volcanic Caldera Discovered Beneath Erzurum Basin in Eastern Turkey
Erzurum, TURKEY – Geologists have identified a massive volcanic caldera beneath the Erzurum Basin, revealing that the region sits atop a circular volcanic structure approximately 60 kilometres in diameter, making it the largest known caldera in eastern Turkey. The discovery shows that Erzurum is not merely a tectonic basin, but the remains of a colossal volcanic collapse.
A caldera is a large volcanic depression formed when a volcano collapses inward after a powerful eruption empties its underlying magma chamber. According to scientists, the newly identified structure — now named the Palandöken Caldera — dramatically changes how the geological evolution of Erzurum is understood.
The finding was announced by Mehmet Salih Bayraktutan, founder of the Earthquake Research Center at Atatürk University, who said the basin had long been incorrectly classified as a tectonic “pull-apart” basin, despite field evidence never fully supporting that model. He explained that the Erzurum Basin actually formed as a compression-related volcanic caldera.
Field observations first hinted at the caldera’s existence in 1985. Over the following decades, satellite imagery, remote sensing analyses and detailed field studies revealed a large, circular structure surrounding Erzurum, confirming the caldera’s presence.
Researchers estimate the Palandöken Caldera is around six million years old and is dominated by andesitic and basaltic volcanic rocks. Geological data indicate that early lava flows dipped inward toward the centre of the basin, where a deep lake environment later developed.
Sediments accumulated progressively from the caldera margins toward the centre, while fine volcanic materials spread widely across the basin. Inside the caldera, the sedimentary sequence contains a complex mix of volcanic and sedimentary rocks, recording a long history of volcanic activity, lake formation and sedimentation.
Bayraktutan noted that arc-shaped segments of the caldera rim remain clearly visible on the southern, eastern, northern and western sides of the basin. When connected, these segments form a nearly complete 60-kilometre-wide caldera ring.
Earthquakes destroyed much of the caldera wall in the west and northwest, allowing flood materials to move into lake environments. These sediments accumulated in stacked fan-delta systems and now form the subsurface foundation of the Daphan Plain.
SPORT
Thank you to Brian Lloyd for the Fethiyespor update.
Match Result
Fethiyespor drew their home match against Arnavutköy Belediyespor on Sunday. The final score was 0-0.
Following recent matches, Fethiyespor remains at 12th place in the league table.
League Matches
The team’s next league match is on Saturday 21 February, away against Adanaspor. Kick-off will be at 13:00.
Stay connected with all things Fethiyespor — join the Fethiyespor Yabancilar Facebook group for breaking news, matchday updates, and community discussions.
You can also follow Fethiyespor on Twitter and Instagram
Turkish Lira (TL) exchange rates
The British Pound bought 59.58 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 59.36 TL.
The US Dollar bought 43.65 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 43.61 TL.
The Euro bought 51.81 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 50.53 TL.
Source: exchangerates.org.uk
Weather Forecast
Here’s your weather forecast for the week ahead.
Source: Living Earth
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