Welcome to our pick of last week’s news from Fethiye and around Turkey.
Curated from various news sources.
NEWS
Cooperative Harvests Two Tons of Lavender in Seydikemer
FETHIYE — The Fethiye Tradesmen and Craftsmen Credit and Guarantee Cooperative harvested approximately two tons of lavender from its 22-acre property in the Yayla Doğanlar neighborhood of Seydikemer.
The cooperative, known for its successful Private Lokman Hekim Tradesmen Hospital project and its vegetable and fruit analysis laboratory for exporters and producers, expanded its agricultural activities to include lavender cultivation. The harvest, carried out by 12 workers, is expected to yield around 10 kilograms of lavender oil and 1,000 kilograms of lavender water. Officials reported that the harvest results were satisfactory.
President İsmail Başoğlu said, “We harvested lavender from this land belonging to our cooperative. The results were quite productive. We harvested approximately 2,000 kilograms of lavender. As a cooperative, we are determined to continue our production activities with the support of our members.”
Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/fethiyede-kooperatif-2-ton-lavanta-uretti
Storks Found Dead in Yakacık Neighborhood, Residents Call for Action
FETHIYE — Residents of the Yakacık neighborhood expressed sorrow after discovering that storks living in the area have perished.
The loss of the birds, which play an important role in maintaining the local ecosystem, has deeply affected the community. Neighbors are now urging authorities to investigate the incident and implement measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Local residents emphasise the importance of protecting wildlife and preserving the balance of nature in the area.
Source: Fethiye TV
Boat Catches Fire in Sarsala Bay, Vacationers Panic
DALAMAN — A boat erupted in flames on Friday in Sarsala Bay, in the Dalaman district of Muğla, sparking panic among vacationers.
The cause of the blaze has not yet been determined. Witnesses captured the incident on their cell phones, showing the vessel quickly engulfed in flames. Other boaters attempted to help by throwing water from their boat engines to extinguish the fire.
Authorities are investigating the incident, and no injuries have been reported so far.
Source: Fethiye TV
Mega Sailing Ship “Club Med 2” Visited Fethiye, Tourists Ferried Ashore
FETHİYE — Club Med 2, one of the world’s largest sailing ships, arrived in Fethiye on Friday morning but was unable to dock at Fethiye Port due to its size.
The French-flagged vessel, measuring 182 meters long, 20 meters wide, and 80 meters high, with five masts and a crew of 210, had departed from Rhodes, Greece, before reaching Fethiye. A total of 283 tourists who wished to disembark were ferried ashore by smaller boats.
During their visit, tourists explored local highlights including Kayaköy, Ölüdeniz, the town center, and historical sites, experiencing the district’s natural and cultural attractions firsthand.
Built in 1992 and entering service in 1996, Club Med 2 remained in the Gulf of Fethiye throughout the day before departing for Antalya in the evening.
Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/mega-yelkenli-yolcu-gemisi-club-med-2-fethiyede
Mayor Announces 5-Story Parking Garage, New Bus Terminal, and Alternative Roads
FETHIYE — Fethiye Mayor Alim Karaca announced plans to tackle the city’s long-standing parking problem with a new five-story parking garage in the city center. The project, which has received two years of planning approval, will include two underground and three above-ground floors, with a capacity of 1,300–1,500 vehicles.
Karaca said the municipality is coordinating with the Ministry and may secure a loan if needed, noting that the project costs approximately 650 million lira. “We are currently a debt-free municipality, but no matter the cost, we will implement this project,” he said, adding that a 50/50 partnership with the Metropolitan Municipality is planned.
To ease city traffic, the project will also provide free electric vehicles for citizens to travel between the parking garage and local businesses or official institutions. In addition, alternative road projects on the Ölüdeniz and Hisarönü-Kayaköy routes, smart intersections, and a new bus terminal near Çamköy Market are under consideration.
Karaca emphasized that addressing parking is a priority for the city. “This project is essential. After the current public announcement period ends and Ministry approvals are obtained, we will move forward to solve Fethiye’s serious parking problem,” he said.
More than Half of Turkish Households in Lower Socioeconomic Groups, TurkStat Data Show
ANKARA —More than half of Turkey’s households fall into the lower half of the country’s socioeconomic scale, according to a new index released by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat).
The index, covering all 26 million households, combines data on education, income and occupation, assigning scores grouped into seven categories from “A+” (highest) to “E” (lowest). Results show that just 1.1% of households rank in the top “A+” group, while 16.7% are in the bottom “E” category. Combined with the adjacent “D” and “C2” groups, 51.8% of households fall into the lower half. Only 12.1% are in the top two categories.
Education carries the greatest weight in the index, yet despite expanded schooling over the past two decades, economic inequality remains entrenched. High inflation and stagnant wages have limited upward mobility, leaving wealth concentrated among a narrow elite.
Geographic divides are stark: nearly 29% of top-tier households are in İstanbul, followed by Ankara and İzmir, while rural districts in Anatolia dominate the lowest categories. Even in major cities, inequality persists — in İzmir, 15% of households are in the bottom group.
The findings underscore structural disparities rather than short-term poverty, with the next update to the SES index due in 2028.
New Vehicle Safety Requirements Introduced in Highway Traffic Regulation
TURKEY — The Highway Traffic Regulation in Turkey has been updated to introduce new safety requirements for vehicles under its scope, the Official Gazette reported. The amendments make it mandatory for affected vehicles to be equipped with a vehicle tracking system, internal and external cameras, a video recording device, and an emergency button.
The implementation schedule depends on the vehicle’s model year. Vehicles from 2023 to 2025 must comply at their first inspection after Jan. 1, 2026. Cars from 2018 to 2022 must meet the requirements at the first inspection after Jan. 1, 2027, while vehicles from 2017 or earlier must comply at the first inspection after Jan. 1, 2028.
A transition period applies to school buses registered between Feb. 18, 2025, and Oct. 1, 2025, which are already equipped with cameras under previous regulations. These buses will not need to meet the new standards until their first inspection after Dec. 31, 2027.
Authorities said the regulation aims to enhance safety, monitoring, and emergency response capabilities in public transport and other regulated vehicles across Turkey, reflecting the country’s commitment to modernizing vehicle safety standards and protecting passengers on its roads.
Source: https://www.dailysabah.com/turkiye/new-traffic-rules-require-cameras-tracking-emergency-buttons/news
SPORT
Thank you to Brian Lloyd for the Fethiyespor weekly update.
Fethiyespor has strengthened its squad with four new signings this week. Onur Atasayar, an experienced left-back who most recently played for 1st League side Boluspor, has competed 36 times in the Süper Lig, 74 times in the 1st League, 23 times in the Turkish Cup, and 61 times in the 2nd League. Midfielder Erdem Çalık, formerly of Eyüpspor and a graduate of the Pendikspor youth academy, brings First League and Süper Lig experience as well as two Turkish Cup appearances. Young center-forward Ahmet Mert Koşar, a Pendikspor academy product who has briefly played in the Süper Lig and 1st League, and promising talent Fırat Başkaya, from the Altınordu youth academy and most recently of Fenerbahçe’s U19 team, have also joined. All four players officially signed their contracts at ceremonies attended by Football Department Manager Uğur Keskin. The club welcomes them and wishes them success in the navy blue and white jersey.
Ziraat Turkish Cup – 1st Elimination Round
Fethiyespor will face Söke 1970 in the 1st Elimination Round of the 2025–2026 Ziraat Turkish Cup, Turkey’s equivalent of the FA Cup. The single-elimination match will be played at Fethiye District Stadium on September 2, 3, or 4, with the exact date and kickoff time to be announced.
Manager’s Birthday Celebration
The club celebrated the birthday of manager Selahaddin Dinçel during a team training session. Players surprised him with a small celebration, wishing him health, happiness, and continued success.
Match Result – 24th August
Fethiyespor played their first league match of the season on 24th August, suffering a 1-0 defeat against Ankara Demirspor.
League Table Position
Following the recent matches, Fethiyespor currently sits in 14th place in the league tables.
Next Home Game
Fethiyespor is preparing for its first home game of the season, scheduled with a 19:00 kickoff. Fans can expect an exciting match as the team looks to start the campaign strongly at Fethiye District Stadium.
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Turkish Lira (TL) exchange rates
The British Pound bought 55.36 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 55.31 TL.
The US Dollar bought 40.96 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 40.85 TL.
The Euro bought 47.99 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 47.75 TL.
Source: exchangerates.org.uk
Weather Forecast
Here’s your weather forecast for the week ahead.
Source: Living Earth
