Welcome to our pick of last week’s news from Fethiye and around Türkiye.
Curated from various news sources.
🧿 LOCAL NEWS
Fethiye Municipality Hosts First Iftar of Ramadan at Çatalarık Social Facility
Fethiye Municipality marked the beginning of Ramadan with the first iftar meal at the Çatalarık Social Facility, bringing together citizens in a spirit of unity and gratitude. The municipality expressed heartfelt wishes for a blessed month, praying for the acceptance of all fasts.
Citizens are invited to join the iftar service, which will continue throughout Ramadan at the Çatalarık Social Facility. This initiative reflects the commitment to fostering community spirit and ensuring everyone can share in the traditions of the holy month.
Source: Fethiye Belediyesi
Fire Tragedy in Fethiye: Elderly Couple Lose Their Lives
A devastating house fire in Fethiye’s Nif Neighborhood claimed the lives of Murat Ekiz (83) and Naciye Ekiz (81) early on Saturday morning. Initial reports indicate that the fire was caused by a wood stove.
Residents noticed flames rising from the house and immediately alerted the 112 Emergency Call Center. Firefighters quickly responded to the scene, bringing the blaze under control. Unfortunately, health teams later confirmed that the elderly couple had tragically lost their lives.
According to preliminary findings, Murat and Naciye Ekiz had gone to bed after sahur, the pre-dawn meal during Ramadan, when the fire is believed to have started.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.
Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/fethiyede-yangin-faciasi-2-kisi-hayatini-kaybetti
Motorcycle Repairers in Fethiye Under Scrutiny: 8 Unregistered Bikes Seized
Fethiye police have taken action against two motorcycle repair shops and seized eight unregistered motorcycles following inspections carried out across the district.
As part of an operation to identify unregistered, stolen, scrap, and seized motorcycles, teams from the Fethiye District Police Department conducted inspections at multiple repair shops. During the checks, authorities discovered that two businesses were operating without a license, prompting legal action against them.
Meanwhile, eight motorcycles found to be unregistered were confiscated as part of the ongoing efforts to combat illegal vehicle use.
Investigations and enforcement actions continue to ensure compliance with regulations and prevent unlawful motorcycle operations in the district.
Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/fethiyede-motosiklet-tamircilerine-uygulama-yapildi
Children’s Festival Welcomes Ramazan in Fethiye
The Children’s Festival to Welcome Ramazan, organized by the Fethiye Mufti’s Office, was held with a high level of participation.
The event took place in the garden of the Fethiye Mufti’s Office, where children and their families engaged in traditional games, competitions, and activities. The festival featured gift distributions, food treats, a Whirling Dervish performance, and a Mehteran (Ottoman military band) show, which drew significant interest. The program began with a recitation of the Quran and included appearances by Nasreddin Hodja and the Ramazan Drummer.
Officials from the Fethiye Mufti’s Office stated that the event was organized to help children experience the spiritual and cultural aspects of Ramadan. Families attending the festival noted that their children enjoyed the activities and had the opportunity to learn about Ramazan traditions.
Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/fethiyede-ramazan-ayi-cocuk-senligi-coskusu
🧿 NEWS FROM AROUND TÜRKIYE
Turkish Red Crescent to provide iftar meals to Syrian cities
The Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay) will organise iftar meals throughout Ramadan in major Syrian cities, including Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, and Hama, Deputy Chairperson Ramazan Saygılı announced on February 16.
Kızılay is conducting Ramadan aid efforts in 60 locations worldwide, providing food, clothing, hygiene products, and winter essentials in collaboration with the Syrian Red Crescent. Aid continues for Syrian refugees returning home and those living in tents and brick houses in northern Syria.
In Palestine, Kızılay distributes 25,000–30,000 meals daily at four locations and is preparing to send a Ramadan aid ship to Gaza. Domestically, Kızılay aims to assist 7.1 million people in need across Türkiye during Ramadan.
Additionally, Kızılay collected 2.8 million units of blood in 2024 and plans to increase this to 3.04 million units in 2025 for hospitals across Türkiye. With a goal to expand its volunteer base from 400,000 to 1 million, Saygılı urged citizens to join Kızılay’s humanitarian efforts.
Source: https://www.dailysabah.com/turkiye/turkish-red-crescent-to-provide-iftar-meals-to-syrian-cities/news
Restoration of 2,000-Year-Old Patara Lighthouse Nears Completion
The restoration of the 2,000-year-old lighthouse in the ancient city of Patara, a historical gem in Antalya’s Kaş district, is in its final stages. The goal is to relight the beacon later this year, bringing this remarkable structure back to life.
Originally built by Roman Emperor Nero in 64 AD, the lighthouse stood for approximately 1,300 years before it was destroyed by an earthquake and tsunami in 1481. Over time, its ruins were buried beneath sand dunes. In 2020, officials launched a restoration project, uncovering thousands of original building stones during excavation works. These stones were carefully preserved, strengthened, and lifted into place using cranes, ensuring historical accuracy.
The 26-meter-tall lighthouse features a four-meter-high podium, a restored dome, and inscriptions honoring Emperor Nero and Lycian governor Sextus Marcus Priscus. A dolphin relief, a notable historical detail, has also been reinstated.
According to Şevket Aktaş, head of the Patara excavations, the lighthouse’s square podium and interwoven cylinder design make it a unique example of ancient architecture. He emphasized that the project stands out as one of the few restorations worldwide that has maintained a structure’s original design, texture, and integrity after two millennia.
With completion expected by the first half of the year, the lighthouse will soon shine again and open to visitors, offering a glimpse into the grandeur of Roman engineering and maritime history.
Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Update from GOV.UK for Turkey travel advice
The UK Government has updated its Turkey travel advice, refreshing guidance on counterfeit alcohol under the ‘Warnings and Insurance’ section. Travellers are advised to stay informed and exercise caution when consuming alcohol in Turkey. This update was published at 3:55 pm on 28th February 2025 on GOV.UK.
Counterfeit Alcohol
In Turkey, including Ankara and Istanbul, people have died or suffered serious illness after drinking illegally produced local spirits and counterfeit bottles of branded alcohol.
To protect yourself:
- buy alcoholic beverages only from licensed liquor stores
- buy drinks only at licensed bars and hotels
- avoid home-made alcoholic drinks
- check bottle seals are intact
- check labels for poor print quality or incorrect spelling
If you have any concerns, ask for advice from your tour operator or the Turkish authorities.
Seek urgent medical attention if you or someone you are travelling with falls ill after drinking alcohol.
For more information about spiking and methanol poisoning, read Travel Aware’s information on Spiking and methanol poisoning.
Source: Turkey Travel Advice
🧿 SPORT
Fethiyespor
Thank you to Brian Lloyd for the Fethiyespor update.
Match Results
Fethiyespor lost their away match against Adana 01 FK on Sunday. The final score was 1-0.
Fethiyespor drop to 10th position in the league table.
League Matches
Sunday 9 March at home against Altınordu F.K. The kick-off time is at 14:00.
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Turkish Lira (TL) exchange rates
The British Pound bought 45.77 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 46.01 TL.
The US Dollar bought 36.40 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 36.42 TL.
The Euro bought 37.78 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 38.12 TL.
Source: exchangerates.org.uk
Weather Forecast
Here’s your weather forecast for the week ahead.
Source: Living Earth
