In June, record-high temperatures in Turkey led to a five-fold increase of forest fires compared to last year, Turkish media reports.
According to data from the General Directorate of Forestry, from June 1 to 21, there were about 400 fires in Turkey, while in the same period last year there were 84.
The General Directorate of Forestry stressed the need for serious precautions and warned against behavior that could cause forest fires, such as burning stubble and throwing cigarette butts.
Meteorology expert Orhan Shen pointed out that the situation is critical at the moment, informs in Hurriet.
Temperatures are high. This is the situation in June, and July, August and September are to come, he said.
In the Aegean, Mediterranean, East, Southeast, Marmara and Thrace regions, temperatures are above 40 degrees Celsius, the expert said, adding that low humidity, high temperatures and wind speeds above 40 kilometers per hour significantly increase the risk of forest fires. fires.
Former Environment Ministry official Mustafa Öztürk emphasized that 95 percent of forest fires are caused by human activity.
Meanwhile, the death toll in a stubble fire in Diyarbekir, southeastern Turkey, has risen to 15, TRT-Haber state television reported.