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Asharq Al-Awsat
33 minutes ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Fires Engulf Türkiye's Mediterranean Coast as Government Declares 2 Disaster Zones
New wildfires broke out on Türkiye's Mediterranean coast Friday, as the government declared two western provinces in the country to be disaster zones. Images showed flames and smoke billowing into the sky close to high-rise apartment buildings in Antalya, where local and foreign visitors flock during the summer months. Homes were evacuated in the city center and the outlying district of Aksu as the fire advanced, privately owned news agency DHA reported. Firefighters struggled to extinguish the blazes before strong winds could spread the fire, which closed a major coastal road. Further along the coast, homes in the city of Manavgat were also threatened. Local residents with hoses and buckets rushed to assist firefighters as water-dropping helicopters and planes also battled the flames. Police water cannons and municipal water trucks were also enlisted in the firefighting efforts. Antalya Gov. Hulusi Sahin said that the fires were under control apart from one in Aksu, which was "showing a tendency to grow," and another in Gazipasa, east of Manavgat. "The fires were truly disturbing and dangerous, because they occurred in city centers, among houses," he said. "We evacuated some of our homes ... There are no deaths or injuries." At 46.1C (115F), July temperatures in Antalya city were the highest for the month since records began in 1930. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, meanwhile, said Friday that Izmir and Bilecik provinces had been declared "disaster areas affecting public life," one step below the most serious level of emergency. Between June 27 and Thursday, residents from 120 neighborhoods nationwide were evacuated, Yerlikaya added, and more than 12,000 workers under the ministry's authority, such as police and rescue staff, had fought the fires. In a social media post, the minister said 311 homes had been destroyed or seriously damaged during the monthlong blazes and 85 temporary housing units were set up across three western provinces for those made homeless. Speaking after Friday prayers, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Türkiye was "faced with a truly great disaster." He said that 25,000 personnel were fighting fires across the country, assisted by 27 planes, 105 helicopters and 6,000 ground vehicles. Türkiye has faced widespread outbreaks of forest fires since late June. Thirteen people have died, including 10 rescue volunteers and forestry workers killed Wednesday in a fire in Eskisehir, western Türkiye. The funerals for the 10 were on Thursday. Temperatures above seasonal norms have been exacerbated by strong winds and dry conditions, resulting in dozens of wildfires. East of Antalya, fires broke out in Adana and Mersin on Friday. Elsewhere in the country, firefighters continued battling blazes in Eskisehir and nearby Karabuk that have been raging for several days. Albania battles fires The heat wave in the eastern Mediterranean region saw 1,000 firefighters and soldiers battle flames in Albania as temperatures reached 42 C (107 F). In the Albanian city of Elbasan, firefighters have been combating a weeklong blaze in the country's central mountain forests. Fires have also broke out near the southern border with Greece. Cyprus aftermath In the aftermath of one of Cyprus' worst wildfires in living memory, it wasn't lost on Cypriot officials that climate change may have been a significant contributing factor to the pace and ferocity of the flames. Both government spokesman Constantinos Letymbiotis and Fire Chief Nicos Longinos referred to the arid conditions, with temperatures hitting 44 C (111 F) and very strong winds that quickly overwhelmed fire crews. Even 14 firefighting aircraft couldn't douse the multiple, fast-moving fire fronts quickly enough. Cyprus is in its third year of minimal winter rains on which it relies for drinking water and for agricultural purposes, even as the government is revving up additional desalination projects. The fire that moved at breakneck speed left two dead, forced the evacuation of 16 communities, scorched dozens of homes and destroyed many orchards and farms. Quizzed by a reporter about criticisms that the Fire Service didn't move quickly enough, Longinos was on the verge of tears when he said that he and all his firefighters have taken an oath to "give their lives" if need be to save lives and property.


Arab News
9 hours ago
- Arab News
How Saudi Arabia is restoring its mangroves to fight climate change and boost tourism
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is scaling up efforts to protect and expand its mangrove forests — hailed as 'nature's super ecosystems' — as part of a push to restore coastal habitats, combat climate change, and diversify the Kingdom's tourism economy. As the world marks the UN-designated International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem on July 26, new initiatives are building on earlier successes and harnessing cutting-edge technology, long-term planning, and private-sector collaboration. 'Mangrove forests are nature's super ecosystems — capable of storing large amounts of carbon, preventing coastal erosion, supporting biodiversity, and mitigating floods,' said Raed Al-Basseet, group chief environment and sustainability officer at Red Sea Global. Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees that grow in the intertidal zones of the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf. They stabilize coastlines, trap pollutants, act as carbon sinks, and provide vital breeding grounds for marine life. Their dense roots protect against erosion and storm surges, while their branches shelter nesting birds, and marine species, such as shrimp, lay their eggs among their roots. Their leaves also serve as food for many other organisms. Today, two species dominate Saudi Arabia's mangrove zones: Rhizophora mucronata (Al-Qundil), found along the southern Red Sea coast, and Avicennia marina (Al-Qarm), which thrives on the Arabian Gulf and northern Red Sea shores. According to Saudipedia, Saudi Arabia is home to approximately 400 million mangrove trees, spread across 60 million square meters, with an average density of over 86,000 trees per hectare. • International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem is marked every year on July 26. • Saudi Arabia aims to plant more than 100 million mangrove trees along its coastlines by the year 2030. • Red Sea Global has cultivated more than 3 million seedlings as part of its environmental restoration strategy. As part of the Saudi Green Initiative, launched in 2021 to support the Kingdom's sustainability goals and its net-zero emissions target by 2060, authorities have committed to planting more than 100 million mangrove trees by 2030. That is a fraction of the SGI's broader ambition to plant 10 billion trees across Saudi Arabia in the coming decades, but mangroves are a priority given their powerful role in carbon sequestration and biodiversity. In 2023, a pilot mangrove restoration scheme began at Jeddah Islamic Port. Meanwhile, the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification is spearheading coastal planting projects in Jazan, Makkah, Tabuk, Madinah, Asir, and the Eastern Province, using nurseries and protective measures to ensure long-term survival. As of the 2021 mangrove conservation day, officials had already planted more than 14.6 million mangrove trees, in partnership with private and public sector entities. 'The cultivation and transplantation of mangrove trees is a highly technical process that demands detailed planning and precision,' said Al-Basseet. 'We carefully monitor tidal cycles to identify suitable low-tide periods and avoid windy conditions during planting.' Saudi Arabia's mangrove reforestation programs are increasingly powered by geographic information systems, drones, and satellite imagery, helping experts pinpoint ideal sites based on factors like sediment composition, salinity, and tidal movement. To protect young trees, conservation teams install fencing and even deploy camera traps to deter animals, such as camels, from grazing on the saplings. 'Mangrove regeneration is integral to our broader environmental sustainability strategy,' said Tariq Al-Abassi, senior director of environmental programs at RSG. 'By following a science-led approach, we ensure the long-term viability and regeneration of these ecosystems as a renewable natural asset.' Mangroves are among the most carbon-dense forests on Earth, locking away CO2 in both biomass and soil. They also reduce ocean acidification by moderating localized pH levels, helping buffer marine life against the effects of climate change. But their value is not only environmental. Mangroves support eco-tourism — such as kayaking, birdwatching, and nature tours — and provide ingredients used in cosmetics and dyes. Increasingly, they are a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia's vision to develop eco-friendly marine parks and coastal attractions that align with its economic diversification goals under Vision 2030. With rising global awareness around the importance of coastal ecosystems, Saudi Arabia's mangrove strategy positions the Kingdom not only as a regional conservation leader but as a global one. As Al-Basseet put it: 'They are among our most efficient natural tools for climate resilience.'


Arab News
12 hours ago
- Arab News
Greek heatwave drags out as temperatures near 46C
ATHENS: A week-long heatwave in Greece that began on Monday is now expected to last more than a week, the country's weather service said as temperatures on Friday neared 46C. The National Observatory in Athens said the warmest temperature recorded was 45.8C in the Peloponnese region of Messinia. In Athens, the highest temperature in parts of the capital was 42C, also recorded in the main port of Piraeus. Officials once again modified the opening hours of the Acropolis, the country's top archaeological site, for the safety of visitors and staff. The monument was shut from midday to 5:00 p.m. — the hottest part of the day — in line with usual safety rules. The Greek weather agency EMY modified a warning note to reflect that temperatures would begin falling after Monday July 28, instead of on the weekend as it had previously reported. Northern winds are expected to pick up later Friday, raising the risk of fires, EMY said. A wildfire earlier this week destroyed more than 2,800 acres (1,130 hectares) of forest and grassland near the mountain village of Feneos in the Peloponnese. It was apparently started by two workmen using welding equipment near a forest. Over half of the area affected was a pine forest that cannot regenerate, the National Observatory said. On Friday, a fire burning near the city of Kilkis in northern Greece forced the evacuation of a university, homes and businesses, the fire service said. A high of 44C was expected in Greece on Saturday, with a maximum of 42C forecast in Athens, the agency said. In neighboring Albania, there were 10 active fires including one in Delvina, near the border with Greece. Another fire in Kakavia, near the border crossing with Greece, was brought under control on Thursday.