A group calling itself "Children of Fire" has claimed responsibility for "dozens of fires in six Turkish cities," Reuters reported, citing a statement by the organization distributed on the Internet, BTA reports.
The little-known group claims to be affiliated with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is recognized as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the EU.
The PKK, which announced in May that it was ending its nearly 40-year armed struggle, has not commented on the statement by the "Children of Fire," it said. Reuters.
Several forest fires have broken out in Turkey in recent days.
The fire, which has been burning since yesterday in the villages of Cesme and Yodemish, in the Izmir province, has killed two people - a firefighter and an elderly man in bed.
Firefighters continue to battle the flames, assisted by helicopters and planes dropping water from the air. Local authorities have closed some roads to traffic in the Aegean resort of Cesme.
Television reports showed flames around the main highway in the area.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said forest fires in western Turkey had destroyed about 200 houses and that those affected were being provided with alternative accommodation. About 50,000 people were temporarily evacuated earlier this week from areas where forest fires are burning. fires, amid high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds.
New fires broke out today in the southern province of Antalya, as well as in a forest area near Istanbul.
Authorities managed to control the fire in several places, Reuters reported.