Welcome to our pick of last week’s news from Fethiye and around Turkey.
Curated from various news sources.
NEWS
Thousands of Speed Signs Removed and Limits Adjusted Across Turkey
Fethiye, MUĞLA – In October 2025, Turkey’s Directorate General of Security removed approximately 20,000 superfluous or confusing traffic signs across all 81 provinces, including Fethiye, as part of a new nationwide road safety initiative. The move aims to simplify road signage and improve driver compliance with clearer, more consistent speed limits.
Key aspects of the changes include:
- Sign Removal: Around 20,000 non-essential or confusing signs were taken down to create safer and more consistent driving environments.
- Speed Limit Adjustments: General national limits remain unchanged, but some road sections have been revised. For instance, on parts of the Karadeniz Highway, limits were increased to 110 km/h. The maximum limit on highways (Otoyol) continues to be up to 140 km/h, depending on road classification.
- Enforcement Focus: The initiative includes stricter enforcement under a new penalty system announced by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, targeting speeding, red-light violations, and mobile phone use while driving.
- Local Variations: Municipalities can still set their own limits on certain local roads, which sometimes results in non-standard limits like 72 km/h or 82 km/h. These are designed to account for the 10% speed tolerance before fines are issued.
- Radar Systems: Reports indicate that private radar systems were also scrapped as part of the updated enforcement strategy.
The overall goal of the project is to enhance road safety by reducing driver confusion and focusing enforcement on clear, standardized rules nationwide.
Median Crossings in Fethiye Closed
Fethiye, MUĞLA – The crossings between the medians on main streets in Fethiye have been barricaded as part of new traffic safety regulations aimed at reducing accidents and improving pedestrian safety.
According to officials, the decision was made after reports showed that motorcycles were making improper U-turns through median openings, leading to frequent accidents and posing a danger to pedestrians. To prevent further incidents, barricades were installed at several intermediate crossing points on major roads throughout the town.
Following the implementation, public opinion in Fethiye has been divided. While some residents welcomed the move as a necessary step to enhance safety, others argued that the lack of alternative crossings, especially along long medians, has made it difficult for pedestrians to cross safely.
Local authorities are reportedly monitoring traffic flow and public feedback to assess whether further adjustments will be needed in the coming weeks.
Run Fethiye Run Hosts Colorful Costumed Awareness Event
Fethiye, MUĞLA – The running group Run Fethiye Run organized a lively costumed run along Fethiye’s waterfront, drawing attention with their colorful outfits and spreading joy throughout the community.
The event, aimed at promoting both a love of sports and social awareness, saw participants running in vibrant costumes, delighting residents and passersby alike.
Members of Run Fethiye Run said the initiative was designed not only to encourage physical activity but also to engage the public in raising awareness for various social causes, combining fun and fitness in a spirited display.
The event highlighted Fethiye’s active sporting community and demonstrated how creative approaches can bring the town together around health, sport, and community engagement.
Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/run-fethiye-rundan-renkli-kostumlu-farkindalik-kosusu
11th International Milas Olive Harvest Festival Begins
Milas, MUĞLA – The 11th International Milas Olive Harvest Festival, which aims to promote olives and olive oil and raise awareness among local producers in the Milas district of Muğla, began with a colorful procession through the town.
The opening procession, which started from Milas Uzunyuva and was accompanied by the Milas Municipal Band, concluded at Atapark with the participation of local dignitaries, women in traditional clothing, NGO representatives, and olive producers. The event also featured a lively folk dance performance by the Milas Yörük Obaları Association.
In his opening remarks, Muğla Governor İdris Akbıyık highlighted the province’s strong potential in olive and olive oil production.
“Muğla is one of Turkey’s leading provinces in olive and olive oil production,” Akbıyık said. “We are currently ranked 8th in olives and 3rd in olive oil production nationally, and 50% of this comes from Milas. Milas olive oil is among the highest quality in both Turkey and the world, and it holds an EU geographical indication. Quality standards are very important to us. Our olive tree count has now surpassed 20 million, up from 15–17 million a decade ago.”
Milas Mayor Fevzi Topuz also underlined the district’s deep cultural and economic connection to olive oil:
“The people of Milas cannot live without olives or olive oil,” he said. “We are doing everything possible to brand, promote, and market this precious product while protecting our olive trees, one of Milas’s greatest assets.”
Muğla Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry, Seyfettin Baydar, added that the directorate continues to support producers throughout all stages of cultivation and production.
Following the speeches, officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the festival and toured olive and olive oil product stands in Atapark. The festival will continue throughout the weekend with a series of olive and olive oil-themed events, tastings, and cultural performances celebrating Milas’s proud olive-growing heritage.
Source: https://www.gercekfethiye.com/11-uluslararasi-milas-zeytin-hasat-senligi-basladi/110480/?p=8
Muğla Governor Akbıyık: “Kaunos Is the Memory of These Lands”
Köyceğiz, MUĞLA – Muğla Governor Dr. İdris Akbıyık described the ancient city of Kaunos as “the memory of these lands” during a series of visits and inspections in the Köyceğiz district.
Governor Akbıyık, accompanied by District Governor Mert Kumcu, first visited the renovated Köyceğiz Water Sports and Camp Training Center, where he met with club managers and athletes. Emphasizing the importance of Lake Köyceğiz for rowing, canoeing, and sailing, Akbıyık noted the district’s potential in sports tourism, supported by its natural thermal springs and ecological connection to the Dalyan Canal.
The governor also inspected the former Köyceğiz District Governor’s Office building, receiving information on its current condition and planned use. Later, he visited the ancient city of Kaunos in the Çandır neighborhood, where he was briefed on ongoing excavations and restoration efforts by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ufuk Çörtük, head of the Kaunos excavations.
Dr. Çörtük reported that the 2025 excavation season focused on the Archaic Walled City and Monastery Sector, revealing obsidian tools from the Late Neolithic period and artifacts from the Turkish era. He added that medical instruments discovered in the monastery area indicate its use as a health center in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD.
Following the visit, Governor Akbıyık highlighted Kaunos’s significance, stating:
“Kaunos is the memory of these lands. Each excavation is a bridge connecting the past to the present, and the present to the future. We will continue to work with determination to protect and pass on this heritage to future generations.”
He thanked Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ufuk Çörtük and the excavation team for their contributions to preserving Muğla’s cultural heritage.
As part of his Köyceğiz program, Governor Akbıyık also met with local headmen (muhtars), describing them as “the state’s most important representatives in the field,” and discussed public services, local needs, and ongoing projects.
Concluding his visit with a stop at Lake Köyceğiz, the governor underscored the area’s natural beauty, water sports opportunities, and ecotourism potential, reaffirming his commitment to supporting initiatives that protect and enhance the district’s historical, cultural, and environmental assets.
Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/mugla-valisi-akbiyik-kaunos-bu-topraklarin-hafizasidir
Fethiye’s Secondhand Market Turns Vintage Finds into Student Support
Fethiye, MUĞLA – The secondhand market held on the first Thursday of each month in Fethiye continues to attract growing crowds, offering everything from 1980s memorabilia to vintage household treasures.
Organized by the Fethiye Tourism, Promotion, Education, Culture and Environment Foundation (FETAV), the market was launched to raise scholarship funds for students from Fethiye who are studying medicine outside the district.
Now a beloved local tradition, the market features nearly 300 stalls packed with clothing, curtains, shoes, and secondhand household goods. Among the highlights are retro items from the 1980s and heirloom rugs passed down through generations. Prices range from as little as 5 TL up to 500 TL, drawing both locals and foreign residents living in Fethiye.
FETAV also operates a stall at the market, run by volunteers from various civil society organizations, with all proceeds supporting the scholarship program.
FETAV volunteer Mine Akça explained, “With this event we launched years ago, we are helping provide scholarships for medical students from Fethiye studying elsewhere. At the market, we meet citizens’ needs for everything from kitchenware to clothing, priced between 30 TL and 100 TL. Demand is quite good.”
With its nostalgic charm, community spirit, and charitable purpose, Fethiye’s secondhand market has become a lively monthly event—one that turns pre-loved goods into new opportunities for local students.
Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/fethiyede-ikinci-el-esya-pazarinda-yok-yok
Six Dead, Five Injured in Perfume Warehouse Fire in Kocaeli
Kocaeli, Turkey – Six people lost their lives and five others were injured after a fire broke out early Saturday at a perfume warehouse in the Dilovası district of Kocaeli province, local media reported.
The blaze, which engulfed two storeys of the building used as a depot, was later brought under control. Kocaeli Governor İlhami Aktaş confirmed that the fire had been extinguished and extended his condolences to the victims’ families.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire, which remains unclear. Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç announced that a Deputy Chief Public Prosecutor, two Public Prosecutors, and a panel of experts have been assigned to oversee the inquiry.
In connection with the incident, three suspects—including the business owner and two shift managers—have been taken into custody as part of the ongoing investigation.
Source: Daily Sabah
SPORT
Thank you to Brian Lloyd for the Fethiyespor weekly update.
The draw for the 4th round of the Ziraat Turkish Cup has been announced. Fethiyespor will play at home against Bandırmaspor.
Matches are scheduled to be played on December 2, 3, or 4, with the exact dates and kick-off times to be confirmed at a later stage.
Match Result
Fethiyespor drew their home match against 68 Aksaray BLD on Sunday with a final score of 1-1. Following recent matches, Fethiyespor remains at 12th place in the league tables.
League Match
The team’s next match will be played away against Bursaspor on Monday, November 17, with kick-off at 15:00.
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Turkish Lira (TL) exchange rates
The British Pound bought 55.55 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 55.26 TL.
The US Dollar bought 42.20 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 42.00 TL.
The Euro bought 48.83 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 48.75 TL.
Source: exchangerates.org.uk
Weather Forecast
Here’s your weather forecast for the week ahead.
Source: Living Earth
