Long-running forest fire in Turkish resort finally extinguished

The blazes in the Mediterranean province of Muğla's Köyceğiz district have been contained after burning for 14 days and cooling efforts were underway, the country's agriculture and forestry minister said.

"We managed to bring Köyceğiz fire under control with the great efforts of heroes of forests," Pakdemirli tweeted, referring to firefighters.

The minister said the blaze was the last in a chain of fires that began on July 28 and lasted for 15 days, describing them as "the biggest forest fires in our history."

Pakdemirli said the Turkish nation united for the forests against this "major catastrophe" and thanked everyone involved, from the president to countries sending support for firefighting efforts.

"We are hurt but rest assured, we will make our forests green again," he added.

On Aug. 19 another wildfire had broken out in the southwestern province of Burdur's Bucak district, but firefighters managed to contain it in one day. Six suspects accused of starting the fire were detained, authorities announced.

The wildfires came amid soaring temperatures in the Mediterranean region of the country. Coupled with strong winds, temperatures posed a challenge to the 5,000 firefighters, equipped with scores of water bomber planes and helicopters, working around the clock to extinguish the flames.

Nine people were killed in the fires in Antalya and Muğla where the damage assessment has been completed, and nearly 5,000 cattle, some 8,000 beehives and around 30,000 birds were wiped out.

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Turkey, koyceğiz,