Firefighters have fought to bring under control a major forest fire that has devastated some 4,000 hectares (10,000 acres) of woodland in Turkey.
Strong winds helped the fire spread quickly in Antalya province before firefighters brought it largely under control Saturday, Minister of Forests Veysel Eroglu said.
Some 1,500 workers backed by 15 firefighting aircraft were still battling the blaze to prevent it from spreading, Eroglu said. He estimated between 3,500 and 4,000 hectares (8,650 and 10,000 acres) were burned by the fire, and 60 homes were destroyed.
Two people were missing and some 60 houses were destroyed in the blaze, which also threatened historical sites, including the ancient Greek amphitheatre in Aspendos, 37 km (23 miles) from the resort of Side on the shores of the Mediterranean.
Officials believe the blaze was sparked by a power line fault but investigations were continuing, the minister said, and pledging aid to those affected by the fire.
Antalya region has some of the richest remains of Greek civilization in Turkey and is the nation's top tourist destination, receiving about 7 million tourists each year, mostly during the summer period.
SG/HAR
PRESSTV