As of: 08/21/2021 4:59 p.m.
A forest fire has broken out on one of the Prince Islands off the coast of Istanbul. Strong winds make it difficult to fire extinguishers on Heybeliada. The cause of the fire is still unclear.
Firefighters and volunteers have been fighting the fire on the Turkish island of Heybeliada since noon. Nevertheless, thick smoke continues to rise over the second largest Prince Island.
According to the Istanbul governor, four planes and five helicopters will be used for the fire fighting. A ferry brought an Istanbul police water cannon to the island. The fire had broken out in the pine forest at the highest point on the island. The cause is still unknown.
Heybeliada is also the seat of the Greek Orthodox seminary, which however was closed by the Turkish state 50 years ago and over which there are repeatedly political disputes. The building has not yet been directly threatened by the flames.
Many fatalities in fires and floods
Turkey has been suffering from numerous forest fires for weeks. More than a hundred fires had broken out, especially along the south coast. Eight people were killed.
At the same time there was heavy flooding on the Black Sea coast in the north. So far, around 80 people have died there, and numerous people are still missing.
Forest fire on the island off Istanbul
Christian Buttkereit, ARD Istanbul, August 21, 2021 4:36 p.m.