Locals attempting to extinguish the wildfire in Dersim are threatened

The forest fire started by Turkish soldiers on August 17 in Danzi and Kurukaymak villages and Koçeri hamlet in Aliboğaz Region, located in Hozat district of Dersim, is continuing on its 11th day. The forest fire which spread to Uzunçeşme village yesterday, has today started to spread to the Karper (Buzlutepe) village in Ovacık district.

It is reported that the local people who took action to combat the fires were blocked by the soldiers stationed at the Bilgiç Gendarmerie Station yesterday. The Ovacık District Governor threatened the people saying, ‘Go back home, or you’ll get into trouble’.

Dersim Mayor, Fatih Mehmet Maçoğlu, and a group of journalists went to a distant point of Karper village where the flames spread. Maçoğlu stated that the officials did not intervene to put out the fires as smoke was rising in the region.