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Wildfires are raging in Turkey and Cyprus as a result of the heatwave

Firefighters in Turkey and Cyprus fought multiple wildfires across the country on Thursday, amid a scorching Mediterranean heatwave which has scorched large areas of land and claimed 10 lives among firefighters in central Turkey.

Six separate wildfires have raged across Turkey. Turkish Agriculture and Forestry minister Ibrahim Yumakli has warned of the dangers of strong winds and scorching temperatures.

Yumakli reported late on Wednesday that 10 firefighters died while fighting a fire in central Eskisehir Province, and added that 14 other firefighters were injured. The fire was fanned by strong wind and spread to Afyonkarahisar in central Turkey. Some towns and villages had been evacuated.

Fires continued to rage in the province of Bilecik (northwest Turkey) for a fourth consecutive day. The firefighters were unable to control them, and several villages had been evacuated. Some residents returned to the areas that were declared safe.

"They couldn't intervene. The road is rocky, there are dense forests and no decent roads. "Helicopters do not work at night and, because they aren't working, they could not intervene," Cemil Karadag said, a resident from the village of Selcik.

It engulfed the village from three or four sides. They couldn't intervene. The wind caused it to spread quickly, but thank God our village centre wasn't too badly damaged.

A wildfire broke out in the Black Sea Province of Sakarya as firefighters were battling another fire nearby. The fire forced the closure of a major highway, and some villages were evacuated.

Ten villages were evacuated after a fire quickly grew in the province of Karabuk where the UNESCO World Heritage City Safranbolu was located. A sixth fire raged in Western province Manisa.

'SHEER HELL'

Firefighters in the eastern Mediterranean island Cyprus fought for the second day to contain a massive wildfire that engulfed the mountain villages north-east of Limassol.

The fire that started on Wednesday trapped two people in their vehicle. As people fled their homes from the towering wall, scores of homes were destroyed.

Authorities said that they will investigate the possibility of arson, even though the cause is not known.

Father Michalis is a Greek Orthodox Priest who was forced to evacuate the village of Lofou.

Strong winds stoked flare-ups in the midday hours, after they had subsided early on Thursday.

Konstantinos Letymbiotis, a spokesperson for the government, said: "Our main focus is on controlling the fire using all of our ground and air force to the maximum." "We face an unprecedented situation."

He said that Israel would also send help, in addition to the air assets of Spain, Egypt, and Jordan. He said that aircraft from British bases in Cyprus also assisted the effort.

Ersin Tatar, the president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (a breakaway Turkish Republic) which is only recognised by Turkey, and has been separated from the south of the island, said that his government would also be willing to assist.

Heatwaves and fires are not uncommon in the region. However, in recent years their impact and damage have become more severe. Tuvan Gümrukcu, Ayhan Uyanik, Michele Kambas, Ankara and Tuvan Uyanik, Bilecik; Tuvan's writing; Ece Toksabay, David Holmes, editing.

(source: Reuters)