A major forest fire in Turkey’s Mediterranean district of Manavgat has left numerous people injured and one dead the country’s agriculture and forestry minister said late on July 28., Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Bekir Pakdemirli said.

Noting that most people who were injured due to smoke inhalation were discharged from hospitals, Pakdemirli said he visited the remaining five to six people who were hospitalized. "Unfortunately, wind conditions, low humidity and other factors are helping the fire spread. There are all kinds of reasons for fuelling the fire right now," the Minister said. Winds of up to 50 km an hour were fanning the flames and the smoke affected 53 people, Pakdemirli said, adding that an investigation has been launched to find out the cause of the blaze. TV footage showed firefighters are dumping water from helicopters on the burning buildings, but the flames have not been under control yet.

Hundreds of people have been evacuated from their homes as the forest fire is fanned by strong winds. The flames reached residential areas, but there was nothing to worry about in tourism areas, Manavgat Mayor Sukru Sozen said.

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