Firefighters Battle to Contain Three Wildfires in Western Türkiye

People walk in front of the Eminonu New Mosque during sunset in Istanbul, Türkiye, 15 August 2024. EPA/ERDEM SAHIN
People walk in front of the Eminonu New Mosque during sunset in Istanbul, Türkiye, 15 August 2024. EPA/ERDEM SAHIN
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Firefighters Battle to Contain Three Wildfires in Western Türkiye

People walk in front of the Eminonu New Mosque during sunset in Istanbul, Türkiye, 15 August 2024. EPA/ERDEM SAHIN
People walk in front of the Eminonu New Mosque during sunset in Istanbul, Türkiye, 15 August 2024. EPA/ERDEM SAHIN

Firefighters are trying to contain wildfires raging in three provinces of northwestern Türkiye, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said late on Thursday, adding that the outlook was positive.

Fourteen planes, 31 helicopters and 265 land vehicles were involved in the firefighting efforts, along with some 1,400 forestry personnel, Reuters quoted Yumakli as saying.
The wildfires broke out in the Eceabat district of Canakkale province, the Goynuk district of Bolu province and Manisa province's Gordes district.
It was not yet clear what caused the fires.
"In all three ongoing wildfires, there is a process that's heading for the better. God willing, I hope to give you good news tomorrow (Friday) and share with you that all three of our fires are finished," he said.
Footage from the three fires showed flames engulfing swathes of lands with black smoke billowing above forests and cities. No residential areas were at risk from the flames, local officials said.
Canakkale Governor Omer Toraman said certain neighborhoods in three villages had been evacuated as a precaution, but that there was no threat to residential areas.
Bolu Governor Erkan Kilic was cited by state media as saying that around 100 hectares of land had been damaged in the fire so far, and that three villages had been evacuated as a precaution.
The wildfire in Manisa, which started on Wednesday, is now in its third day.



Ukraine Downs Five Russia-Launched Drones During Overnight Attack

Ukrainian servicemen operate an armored military vehicle on a road near the border with Russia, in the Sumy region of Ukraine, on August 14, 2024. (Photo by Roman PILIPEY / AFP)
Ukrainian servicemen operate an armored military vehicle on a road near the border with Russia, in the Sumy region of Ukraine, on August 14, 2024. (Photo by Roman PILIPEY / AFP)
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Ukraine Downs Five Russia-Launched Drones During Overnight Attack

Ukrainian servicemen operate an armored military vehicle on a road near the border with Russia, in the Sumy region of Ukraine, on August 14, 2024. (Photo by Roman PILIPEY / AFP)
Ukrainian servicemen operate an armored military vehicle on a road near the border with Russia, in the Sumy region of Ukraine, on August 14, 2024. (Photo by Roman PILIPEY / AFP)

Ukraine shot down all five Russia-launched drones during an overnight attack, the country's air force said on Friday.

Russian forces also used three ballistic Iskander-M missiles during the attack, according to the air force's statement on the Telegram messaging app.

Russia used three Shahed-type drones and two drones of an unidentified type for the attack, it said.

Reuters previously reported that Russia turned to using cheaply-made drones in some of its attacks on Ukraine to try to identify air defenses and act as decoys.

The governors of Kyiv and Kirovohrad regions reported no damage or casualties following the attack.

Air defense worked in the capital Kyiv overnight with no damage reported by the city's authorities.

On Thursday, the military turned on the air alerts four times to notify the city's residents about possible attacks.

The air alert has come on over 1,200 times in Kyiv since the start of the full-scale invasion, authorities said on Friday.