Turkey saw 1,859 forest fires with unknown causes in 2020

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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With the recent forest fires that raged across Turkey's southern provinces, especially in Antalya and Muğla, for nearly two weeks, forest fires have once again come to the public agenda of the country.

The data collected by the Directorate General of Forestry of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has shown that 20,970.60 hectares of land were razed in Turkey throughout 2020. The number of fires that burned in the country last year was reportedly 3,399. No forest fires occurred in Ağrı, Iğdr and Muş provinces in eastern Turkey, according to this data.

Hectares of land that burned in forest fires by province:

1. Hatay - 4,978.61
2. Adana - 2,644.81
3. İzmir - 2,329.22
4. Manisa - 1,790.80
5. Kastamonu - 1,491.42

Number of trees that burned by province:

1. Muğla - 260
2. Antalya - 260
3. İzmir - 167
4. Kastamonu - 155
5. İstanbul - 147

Distribution by the characteristics of fires

While 14,379 hectares of groves burned in Turkey in 2020, 2,712 hollow undergroves burned in the country last year. According to the data, 1,944 hectares of macquis groves and 1,086 afforestation areas burned in Turkey in 2020. 159 hectares of normal swamp areas also burned.

Distribution by causes of fires

1. Cause unknown - 1,859
2. Other causes - 607
3. Natural - 312
4. Stubble - 205
5. Energy -133
6. Shepherd fire - 49
7. Cigarette - 45
8. Dump - 32
9. Arson - 30
10. Terrorism - 4

(NÇ/AÖ/SD)