NORTH CYPRUS ON HIGH ALERT

THE TRNC is on “high alert” for forest fires with strong winds, dry conditions and temperatures of up to 43C forecast until Friday.

Forestry Department director Cemil Karzaoğlu announced that entry to forest roads and forest areas has been banned until Wednesday. He also stated that it is forbidden to start fires in forest areas and picnic grounds.

Issuing a written statement, Mr Karzaoğlu said that according to the Meteorology Department’s weather forecasts the probability of fire is “very high” due to the rise in temperatures and expected windy conditions coupled with levels of humidity falling below 20 percent.

Mr Karzaoğlu stressed that all Forestry Department personnel have taken the “necessary fire precautions” and that “everyone is on high alert”.

He said that it is of “great importance” that members of the public report “even the slightest amount of smoke” to the 177 forest fire hotline and the 199 Fire Department emergency number.

“We have complete faith that all our citizens will comply with these temporary measures,” Mr Karzaoğlu said.

“We are aware of just how precious a breath is today, together let’s protect our nature which provides a breath to all living things.”

The warning was issued as wind carried smoke from devastating blazes in areas of southern Turkey, that started in Manavgat, Antalya, and have claimed the lives of at least four people, over North Cyprus on Thursday.

The smoke from the flames in Turkey was seen above Lefkoşa and Girne and the clouds took on a red hue from time to time.

A Forestry Department spokesperson told Cyprus Today yesterday that a fire helicopter from Turkey stationed in the TRNC had been sent back to Turkey to help tackle the fires there.

The TRNC’s Environmental Protection Department said that data from the Teknecik air quality monitoring station showed that concentrations of gas and dust pollutants started to increase at 7pm on Wednesday and remained high until 5am on Thursday before beginning to decrease.

“Although the hourly average values of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide concentrations increased during the specified hours, they did not exceed the daily air quality standards specified in the Air Quality Evaluation and Management Regulation,” a statement said.

MP Kudret Özersay, writing on Facebook, said: “It is raining fine ash from the sky in Girne, like tears, the colour of the air has turned brown. . . It must be related to the Manavgat fire, this is very painful… Get well soon to Turkey and to all humanity.”

President Ersin Tatar and Prime Minister Ersan Saner both expressed their condolences to Turkey over the fires, which Turkish media reports said yesterday are largely under control.