Heartwarming moment rescuers battling Turkish forest fires save two weasel cubs trapped amid the flames

  • Residents of four neighbourhoods were evacuated as Manavgat's streets were engulfed in flames and smoke
  • One person died, ten were stranded and 500 people lost their homes to the flames on Wednesday, Thursday 
  • The fire spread to the town of Manavgat after being helped by hot weather and fanned by strong winds
  • A firefighting plane, 19 helicopters, 108 vehicles, and 400 personnel were dispatched to tackle the flames

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This is the heartwarming moment rescuers save two weasel cubs who were trapped by flames during a forest fire in southern Turkey. 

The pair of babies were rescued as the forest fire burned for a second day on Thursday, helped by hot weather and strong winds.   

One person died and 10 people were trapped by the fire on Thursday morning as rescue and extinguishing efforts continued. 

Agriculture Minister Bekir Pakdemirli said an 82-year-old man was found dead during the evacuation of the district of Kepezbeleni, northeast of Manavgat, and ten people were stranded at the nearby Oymapinar dam.

Units were en route to rescue the people, he said. 

Authorities evacuated 18 villages and districts in Antalya while 16 more villages were evacuated in the neighbouring provinces of Adana and Mersin.

Forest workers rescued two weasel cubs trapped in the flames of a forest fire in Manavgat district, southern Turkey on Wednesday

Forest workers rescued two weasel cubs trapped in the flames of a forest fire in Manavgat district, southern Turkey on Wednesday

A weasel cub gingerly makes its way out of its den
It was rescued from a raging forest blaze by firefighters in southern Turkey on Wednesday

A weasel cub gingerly makes its way out of its den after being rescued from a raging forest blaze by firefighters in southern Turkey on Wednesday

Weasel cubs rescued from the forest fires in Manavgat district in southern Turkey are seen recovering as firefighters work to get the flames under control

Weasel cubs rescued from the forest fires in Manavgat district in southern Turkey are seen recovering as firefighters work to get the flames under control

A rescue worker pours cool water over a weasel cub after it was rescued from a raging forest fire in southern Turkey

A rescue worker pours cool water over a weasel cub after it was rescued from a raging forest fire in southern Turkey

The forest fire has continued burning for a second day today, helped by hot weather and strong winds that have fanned the flames

The forest fire has continued burning for a second day today, helped by hot weather and strong winds that have fanned the flames

Authorities evacuated 18 villages and districts in Antalya while 16 more villages were evacuated in the neighbouring provinces of Adana and Mersin after smoke and flames burned into Wednesday evening

Authorities evacuated 18 villages and districts in Antalya while 16 more villages were evacuated in the neighbouring provinces of Adana and Mersin after smoke and flames burned into Wednesday evening

At least ten people were stranded at the nearby Oymapinar dam in Antalya province, southern Turkey, after wild fires broke out on Wednesday

At least ten people were stranded at the nearby Oymapinar dam in Antalya province, southern Turkey, after wild fires broke out on Wednesday 

Plumes of black smoke were seen rising from the surrounding forest, blocking out the sky, in Manavgat after forest fires broke out

Plumes of black smoke were seen rising from the surrounding forest, blocking out the sky, in Manavgat after forest fires broke out

The flames ripped through houses in Manavgat and the surrounding area as forest fires, helped by hot weather and strong winds, spread rapidly

The flames ripped through houses in Manavgat and the surrounding area as forest fires, helped by hot weather and strong winds, spread rapidly

Dozens of people were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation and several for burns as a forest fire ravaged several communities near Mediterranean tourist resort Antalya

Dozens of people were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation and several for burns as a forest fire ravaged several communities near Mediterranean tourist resort Antalya

A firefighting plane, 19 helicopters, 108 vehicles, and 400 personnel were dispatched to tackle the flames in southern Turkey

A firefighting plane, 19 helicopters, 108 vehicles, and 400 personnel were dispatched to tackle the flames in southern Turkey

Dozens of people were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation and several for burns as a forest fire ravaged several communities near Mediterranean tourist resort Antalya.

It left at least 500 people homeless and forced hundreds more to flee after it spread nine miles to the coastal town Manavgat.

Antalya mayor Muhittin Bocek said it was likely the fire was an act of arson because it was started in four different locations. 

'But we do now have clear information about that at this stage', he added.  

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said 'all necessary support will be given to our citizens who have suffered from the fire,' adding an investigation had been launched into the cause.

Turkish media reported 62 people, mainly local people overcome with smoke and three suffering from burns, were hospitalised.

Flares rage inside a damaged house after a fire broke out in a forest in Akseki district and spread to the nearby town on Wednesday

Flares rage inside a damaged house after a fire broke out in a forest in Akseki district and spread to the nearby town on Wednesday

The fires left at least 500 people homeless and forced hundreds more to flee after it spread nine miles to the coastal town Manavgat

The fires left at least 500 people homeless and forced hundreds more to flee after it spread nine miles to the coastal town Manavgat

A fire rages in a damaged house in the Karagoz neighbourhood of Manavgat district after forest fires spread through the area

A fire rages in a damaged house in the Karagoz neighbourhood of Manavgat district after forest fires spread through the area 

Firefighters and rescue teams were working to tame the raging flames through Wednesday and into Thursday following a forest fire in Manavgat

Firefighters and rescue teams were working to tame the raging flames through Wednesday and into Thursday following a forest fire in Manavgat

Authorities evacuated 18 villages and districts in Antalya while 16 more villages were evacuated in the neighbouring provinces of Adana and Mersin

Authorities evacuated 18 villages and districts in Antalya while 16 more villages were evacuated in the neighbouring provinces of Adana and Mersin

A burnt house in Manavgat was still smoldering late Wednesday and into Thursday after a forest fire fanned by heavy winds devastated the region

A burnt house in Manavgat was still smoldering late Wednesday and into Thursday after a forest fire fanned by heavy winds devastated the region

Dozens of people were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation and several for burns as a forest fire ravaged several communities near Mediterranean tourist resort Antalya

Dozens of people were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation and several for burns as a forest fire ravaged several communities near Mediterranean tourist resort Antalya

Drone photos show an aerial view of the damage caused by forest fires in Manavgat district, southern Turkey, on Wednesday

Drone photos show an aerial view of the damage caused by forest fires in Manavgat district, southern Turkey, on Wednesday

Residents walk among the burnt out houses in Manvagat district, Turkey, after they were destroyed in a forest fire on Wednesday

Residents walk among the burnt out houses in Manvagat district, Turkey, after they were destroyed in a forest fire on Wednesday

Aerial photos revealed the extent of the damage to houses in Manavgat district in Turkey after the area was ravaged by forest fires

Aerial photos revealed the extent of the damage to houses in Manavgat district in Turkey after the area was ravaged by forest fires

Firefighters and rescue teams were working to extinguish the fire into Thursday after it spread rapidly, fanned by strong winds, on Wednesday

Firefighters and rescue teams were working to extinguish the fire into Thursday after it spread rapidly, fanned by strong winds, on Wednesday

The government's Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) said a further 30 people were 'affected' by the fire in the Mediterranean coastal town, but did not provide details.  

Security forces helped move hundreds of residents out of four neighborhoods in the town out of the fire's path after it was fanned by strong winds causing it to spread rapidly on Wednesday. 

Hundreds of forestry workers, aided by helicopters and a plane, tried to bring the fire under control. 

Footage on social media and Turkish TV showed rescuers dumping fire retardant from helicopters on burning buildings and fields in and around the coastal town of Manavgat.

Other videos online showed burnt residential buildings and people fleeing across fields as firefighters backed by helicopters battled to extinguish the fires.

A forest fire in southern Turkey spread to the town of Manavgat after the flames were fanned by strong winds on Wednesday, forcing authorities to evacuate homes

A forest fire in southern Turkey spread to the town of Manavgat after the flames were fanned by strong winds on Wednesday, forcing authorities to evacuate homes

Antalya mayor Muhittin Bocek said the fire said it was likely the fire was an act of arson because it was started in four different locations

Antalya mayor Muhittin Bocek said the fire said it was likely the fire was an act of arson because it was started in four different locations

Security forces helped move hundreds of residents out of four neighborhoods in the town out of the fire's path as firefighters worked to control the blaze

Security forces helped move hundreds of residents out of four neighborhoods in the town out of the fire's path as firefighters worked to control the blaze

The government's Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) said around 30 people were 'affected' by the fire in the Mediterranean coastal town, but did not provide details

The government's Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) said around 30 people were 'affected' by the fire in the Mediterranean coastal town, but did not provide details

Agriculture Minister Bekir Pakdemirli said authorities were battling the flames with a firefighting plane, 19 helicopters, 108 vehicles and 400 personnel, and that the fire was partially under control

Agriculture Minister Bekir Pakdemirli said authorities were battling the flames with a firefighting plane, 19 helicopters, 108 vehicles and 400 personnel, and that the fire was partially under control

Footage showed streets being engulfed in smoke and flames, spreading as far as the town centre. Plumes of black smoke were seen rising from the surrounding forest, blocking out the sky. 

The flames have so far destroyed dozens of hectares of forest cover as well as several buildings. 

Agriculture Minister Bekir Pakdemirli said authorities were battling the flames with a firefighting plane, 19 helicopters, 108 vehicles and 400 personnel, and that the fire was partially under control. 

'Our job now is to fight the fire,' the minister said in televised remarks. 'There will be an investigation and the causes will be determined later.'

Security forces assess the forest fire in southern Turkey's Manavgat region after black plumes of smoke covered the sky on Wednesday

Security forces assess the forest fire in southern Turkey's Manavgat region after black plumes of smoke covered the sky on Wednesday

Efforts to extinguish the fire were underway on Wednesday, hours after the flames and smoke reached the town of Manavgat

Efforts to extinguish the fire were underway on Wednesday, hours after the flames and smoke reached the town of Manavgat

Mayor Sukru Sozen said the fire was growing because of strong winds of up to 50km an hour. 

'It's impossible for us to determine the size of the damage, there is damage in the villages too. We have not seen anything like this,' he told broadcaster Haberturk. 

Governor Yigit denied earlier media reports that patients at a hospital in Manavgat were being transferred to another location, but said the hospitals in the area were placed on alert. 

Tourists resorts in the region weren't affected, Yigit added. 

Security forces assess the forest fire in southern Turkey's Manavgat region after black plumes of smoke covered the sky on Wednesday

Security forces assess the forest fire in southern Turkey's Manavgat region after black plumes of smoke covered the sky on Wednesday

A view of the forest fire that broke out in Manavgat district of Antalya in southern Turkey on Wednesday and was fanned by high speed winds

A view of the forest fire that broke out in Manavgat district of Antalya in southern Turkey on Wednesday and was fanned by high speed winds

Plumes of black smoke were seen rising from the southern Turkish town of Manavgat after a forest fire broke out in the region on Wednesday

Plumes of black smoke were seen rising from the southern Turkish town of Manavgat after a forest fire broke out in the region on Wednesday

Agriculture Minister Bekir Pakdemirli said authorities were battling the flames with a firefighting plane, 19 helicopters, 108 vehicles and 400 personnel, and that the fire was partially under control

Agriculture Minister Bekir Pakdemirli said authorities were battling the flames with a firefighting plane, 19 helicopters, 108 vehicles and 400 personnel, and that the fire was partially under control

Efforts to extinguish the fire were underway on Wednesday, hours after the flames and smoke reached the town of Manavgat

Efforts to extinguish the fire were underway on Wednesday, hours after the flames and smoke reached the town of Manavgat

Smoke covers Manavgat district in southern Turkey after a forest fire broke out in on Wednesday and was fanned by strong winds

Smoke covers Manavgat district in southern Turkey after a forest fire broke out in on Wednesday and was fanned by strong winds

Smoke rises over Manavgat district in Antalya, southern Turkey, after a forest fire broke out and spread to the nearby town

Smoke rises over Manavgat district in Antalya, southern Turkey, after a forest fire broke out and spread to the nearby town

Turkey's AFAD disaster agency said emergency teams from nearby provinces were also called into action, while authorities evacuated settlements near the forest.

Antalya, a popular destination for both foreign and local tourists, is known for its scorching summer heat. Bocek said the extreme heat and strong winds were fanning the fire as it swept through the pine forest. 

The fire comes as Turkey battles with a series of disasters caused by extreme weather conditions in recent weeks.

Earlier this month, flash floods in the Black Sea provinces of Rize and Artvin damaged homes and property. The floods killed six people in Rize, according to AFAD. 

Smoke covers the sky as people leave their homes because of a forest fire in Manavgat district in southern Turkey

Smoke covers the sky as people leave their homes because of a forest fire in Manavgat district in southern Turkey

A woman flees her home after it was engulfed in smoke and flames when a forest fire swept across Turkey's Manavagat district

A woman flees her home after it was engulfed in smoke and flames when a forest fire swept across Turkey's Manavagat district

Smoke covers the sky as residents leave their homes as a forest fire engulfs their homes in Antalya's Manavgat district

Smoke covers the sky as residents leave their homes as a forest fire engulfs their homes in Antalya's Manavgat district

A view from a damaged house after a forest fire broke out in Manavgat district of Turkey's southern Antalya province on Wednesday

A view from a damaged house after a forest fire broke out in Manavgat district of Turkey's southern Antalya province on Wednesday 

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