At least four people have lost their lives as a result of the fires raging along the coast of Turkey, and 183 people have so far been hospitalized with fire and smoke injuries.
EVERYWHERE: Frank-Magne and Nina Hansen have an apartment in Side in southern Turkey, and experienced the fires up close. Photo: Private.
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– Dramatically
– It was quite dramatic, both yesterday and today, says Frank-Magne Hansen to Dagbladet.
He and his wife Nina Hansen were in their apartment in Side in southern Turkey when the fires broke out on Wednesday.
Frank-Magne says it all started when they saw a fire about five kilometers from the apartment.
– Then the fire was suddenly only a few hundred meters from us. There were fires that started all around us, very close, he says.
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He says that there were around four or five fires that started at the same time, and that spread due to very strong winds.
Despite the fact that the fires approached the area where the couple has an apartment, they did not have to evacuate.
– When we saw that it was burning, we checked that the fire brigade was in control, and then we took it easy. There were many planes and helicopters in the air, and those who worked to put out the fire were very good, says Frank-Magne.
Tilt action
Now the couple says that they are on their way to a store to buy emergency aid for fire victims.
– Among other things, we will buy baby food, nappies, wet wipes and fire ointment, Frank-Magne tells Dagbladet.
VIPPS ACTION: Here is Nina Hansen at the store to buy emergency aid for the fire victims in Manavgrat, with the money from the vipps collection she and her husband started on Friday. Photo: Private.
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The couple set up a tipping campaign on Friday morning, and in just 20 minutes they had received 10,000 Norwegian kroner.
– Now we have received approx. 15,000 kroner at Vipps in the course of an hour, something we are completely overwhelmed by, he says.
He says that the situation is now almost normal again, in Side where the couple has an apartment.
– But up in the villages it’s bad. It does not look very nice there, and it is more reminiscent of a war zone, he says.
The couple will deliver the emergency aid to a municipal reception center nearby.
– The areas affected are around the municipal center in Manavgat, he says.
Large forest fire in Turkish holiday paradise
Suspects arson
AFAD and the Minister of Agriculture have stated that they suspect that the fires have been started, and have started an investigation. This writes Reuters.
The president has promised to hold those “responsible” for the attacks accountable.
Agriculture Minister Bekir Pakdemirli told Reuters that an 82-year-old man was found dead during the evacuation of Kepezbeleni, 16 kilometers northeast of Manavgat.
In addition, two people were found dead in Degirmenli, 20 kilometers east of Manavgat.
Pakdemirli also says that 18 villages and districts in Antalya have been evacuated, along with 16 others in the nearby provinces of Adana and Mersin.
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