Fire reaches more residential areas of southern Turkey, forcing evacuations

A fire in a residential area of southern Turkey forced some people to evacuate as the country continues to battle massive wildfires that broke out last week on the country's southern and southwestern coasts.

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The blaze started in the Beyciler neighborhood of Milas district in Muğla province and spread to four neighborhoods in Bodrum district, reaching the Türkevleri and Ören neighborhoods.

The flames, which spread rapidly with the strong wind, forced residents of one area to leave their homes, with journalists rescuing a cat trapped on a balcony.

Earlier Tuesday, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu said 16,603 residents of 3,219 households in 28 neighborhoods have been evacuated due to the fires in the country's south.

At least eight people have lost their lives in the fires since they started last Wednesday.

152 out of 163 fires contained in Turkey

A total of 152 fires have been contained since they started burning last Wednesday in Turkey, according to the country's agriculture and forestry minister. Efforts continue to put out the 11 remaining blazes.

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There were 163 fires that have erupted in 38 provinces since July 28, Bekir Pakdemirli told a news conference in the Marmaris district in southern Turkey.

He was accompanied by Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu. Pakdemirli said 16 airplanes, nine UAVs, 51 helicopters, one unmanned aerial helicopter, 805 water tankers, and 5,200 personnel are battling the blazes.

He pledged support to victims and said 2,219 farmers in five provinces, 18 districts and 78 villages have been affected.

Pakdemirli said Marmaris saw record high temperature of 45.5 degrees Celsius (113.9 F). "The previous record was 45.2° [113.36 F] on...