Turkey's Kurdistan wildfire toll rises to 15; faulty wiring blamed

DIYARBAKIR (AMED),— The death toll from last week’s massive wildfire in Turkish Kurdistan, the mainly Kurdish region in southeast Turkey, has climbed to 15, hospital sources reported on Monday. Experts suggest faulty wiring may be the cause.

The blaze erupted on Thursday between the Kurdish cities of Diyarbakir and Mardin, initially claiming 12 lives and leaving five critically injured. Three of those injured succumbed to their wounds on Sunday, with two others remaining in intensive care.

According to the Agriculture Ministry, over 1,000 sheep and goats died in the fire. Locals from Koksalan village in Diyarbakir province told AFP that some victims perished while trying to save their animals.

While the government attributed the fire to “stubble burning,” the Diyarbakir branch of the Chambers of Turkish Architects and Engineers (TMMOB) disagreed, citing faulty electrical cables instead.

In a report released on Sunday, TMMOB stated, “The fire could have been caused by the power cables,” noting the absence of stubble in the area and the poor condition of the electrical infrastructure. The report accused the private electricity distributor DEDAS of replacing and repairing poles the day after the fire, potentially obscuring evidence.

An expert report sent to the local public prosecutor’s office indicated that a conductive wire broke, igniting the grass, which was then spread by strong winds. The faulty wiring was located on a pole in Koksalan village, where fields had not yet been harvested. The fire is estimated to have destroyed between 1,650 and 2,000 hectares of farmland, forest, and residential areas.

Agriculture Minister Ibrahim Yumakli reported on X that nearly 1,500 hectares were burned and 924 sheep and goats perished in Koksalan. Nearly 200 animals were treated for burns, and another 83 with severe injuries were sent for slaughter.

Last June, a similar fire in the area destroyed 68 hectares, with faulty wiring again identified as the cause. A court found DEDAS guilty of inadequate maintenance and ordered compensation, though the amount remains undisclosed.

The pro-Kurdish DEM party has called for a parliamentary inquiry to hold public bodies accountable for the fire. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya initially blamed the fire on stubble burning, and the justice ministry has launched a probe.

Turkey has experienced 81 wildfires this year, affecting over 15,000 hectares, according to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS). Experts warn that human-driven climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of wildfires and other natural disasters, urging Turkey to implement preventive measures.

The Kurdistan Women’s Community (KJK) Coordination released a statement expressing condolences and accusing the Turkish state of environmental and “cultural genocide” against the Kurdish people. They alleged the use of banned weapons, deforestation, and deliberate ecocide through various means, including dam construction and air strikes.

“We are profoundly saddened by the devastating fire in Amed and Mardin. We send our condolences to those who lost their lives and their families,” the KJK stated. “There is no natural disaster in Kurdistan, but a genocidal, colonialist state disaster.”

(With files from AFP | ANF)