Welcome to our pick of last week’s news from Fethiye and around Turkey.
Today’s featured image was taken by Lyn Ward and is looking across to Karagözler and Mendos mountain in Fethiye
NEWS
Missing British citizen found dead after 10 days
British citizen Keith Fordham, who disappeared in the Köyceğiz district 10 days ago, was found dead on Friday.
According to a report in Gerçek Fethiye, citizens were alerted by the barking of a dog coming from an orange garden on Yeni Mahalle Turizm Caddesi. On entering the garden to check where the sound was coming from, Fordham was found motionless on the ground.
112 teams responded to the emergency call and confirmed Fordham had died.
The body was sent to Muğla Forensic Medicine Institution to determine the exact cause of death.
The investigation of the case is continuing.
Source: Gerçek Fethiye
Death toll from earthquake in eastern Turkey rises to 38
The death toll from Friday’s 6.8 magnitude earthquake in the Elazığ province has risen to 38, Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said on Sunday
The quake shook eastern Elazığ province late on Friday. Tremors were also felt in neighboring countries including Syria and Georgia.
A total of 844 aftershocks were felt, it added.
Out of 1,607 injured people, 1,515 have been discharged from the hospital, while 45 people who were trapped under the debris of houses and buildings were rescued, according to the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).
Emergency workers also rescued a 5-year-old girl from a collapsed building on Saturday.
AFAD said rescue work continues in the region with more than 3,800 personnel, hundreds of vehicles and 22 sniffer dogs.
Condolences poured in from all over the world, including from the U.S., Russia, Germany, France, Malaysia and Pakistan.
Turkey had already been struck by two other moderate earthquakes in the week.
Magnitude 5.4 earthquake strikes western Turkey
A 5.4-magnitude earthquake struck Turkey’s western Manisa province on Wednesday.
Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Agency (AFAD) said the quake, which occurred at 22.22 p.m. local time, was centered off Akhisar county at a depth of 6.98 kilometers (4.3 miles).
Four people were reportedly injured and there was damage to some buildings.
More than 70 aftershocks were detected, causing panic among locals, who abandoned their homes to spend the night outside.
Neighboring cities also reportedly felt the quake, which was described as non-destructive, as it was below magnitude 6.
The quake was also felt in the western cities of Izmir, Aydin and Denizli.
Magnitude 4.5 earthquake shakes Turkey’s capital Ankara
Turkey’s capital was also rattled by a magnitude 4.5 earthquake early on Thursday.
The Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (AFAD) said in a statement that the quake’s epicenter was 13 kilometers (8 miles) below the surface in Ankara’s Akyurt district.
It struck at 06.54 a.m. local time.
Ankara Governor Vasip Şahin later announced that there were no casualties or material losses.
Sources: aa.com.tr/TRTWorld NGOs to Göcek Tunnel Toll
NGOs respond to Göcek Tunnel toll hike
Fethiye Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FTSO), TÜRSAB, Fethiye Chamber of Merchants and Craftsmen, Fethiye Drivers Room, Fethiye Hoteliers Association (FETOB) held a joint press conference on Friday January 24 to make a joint statement calling for the latest hike on the Göcek tunnel toll to be reduced to a reasonable level. During the statement they said,
“The only paid tunnel in our country is the Göcek tunnel. The tunnel, which was opened in 2006 and has a total length of 960 meters, is operated by a private company with a build-operate-transfer model for 25 years. The recent hikes are 30% to 50% for the tunnel’s tolls. Passenger cars now have to pay 18 TL and minibuses 30 TL for two-way passage. These increases are far above inflation. In an environment where the minimum wage is increased by 15%, it is unacceptable for a private company to make a 50% hike.
For those who do not want to use the tunnel due to the high cost of the toll, there are insufficient direction signs for the old road. Also this narrow and curved road, which is not a divided road, has insufficient marker lines and traffic signs and falling rock pieces in rainy and windy weather also increase the danger.
In summary :
- Recent hikes to the tunnel should be brought to reasonable levels immediately.
- For those who want to choose the mountain road, which is an alternative to the toll, the road signs of the crossroad should be more visible and arranged to attract the attention of the driver.
- For those who do not want to use the toll, the mountain road should be maintained as well as modern and reliable like our other main roads.”
Source: Railly News
An unusual visitor to Ölüdeniz
Workers at Paradise Beach Bar and Restaurant in Ölüdeniz spotted a surprise visitor on Saturday. They regularly spot turtles in the area but a visit from an endangered monk seal is a much rarer sight.
During a break this afternoon, from working hard to make the beach even more amazing, look what we found!!!
Posted by Paradise Beach, Bar and Restaurant on Saturday, January 25, 2020Feel lucky when we get to spot a sea turtle but how many of you have spotted an otter in the lagoon?!
Edit: sorry guys it's a seal not an otter
Feel lucky when we get to spot a sea turtle but how many of you have spotted an otter in the lagoon?! 
Edit: sorry guys it's a seal not an otterVideo courtesy of Paradise Beach Bar and Restaurant
Mediterranean monk seals were found regularly throughout the Mediterranean, Marmara and Black Seas, along the West African coast to as far south as Cap Blanc, and in the Canary, Madeira and Azores Islands. In the 20th century, the species was eliminated, primarily by fishermen, over most of that range, disappearing from Egypt, Israel, Cyprus, Lebanon, Montenegro, the Black Sea, Italy, Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, France, the Balearic Islands, Spain, Tunisia, and Morocco.
They are now found in four populations, which are isolated from each other.
- Eastern Mediterranean: primarily in the islands of the Ionian Sea off western Greece, along the mainland coast of Greece, in the islands of the Aegean Sea between Greece and Turkey, and along the Mediterranean coast of Turkey.
- Southwestern Mediterranean: in northeastern Morocco and Algeria.
- Madeira Archipelago: west of Morocco and southwest of Portugal, in the Desertas Islands and on the island of Madeira.
- Mauritania: along a short stretch of the Cap Blanc Peninsula, on the west African coast south of the Madeira Archipelago.
Given their reclusive habits, accurate and precise population estimates are not available, but monk seal researchers agree that there are no more than 700 seals in total. Researchers currently estimate that the eastern Mediterranean population is no larger than 350 adult animals, but this estimate is uncertain.
Source: Marine Mammal Commission
SPORT
Thank you to Brian Lloyd for the Fethiyespor updates.
Fethiyespor
Fethiyspor signed a contract with 23 -year-old striker Feyzullah Şahin Güneş this week.
Fethiyespor lost their away match against Agri 1970 on Sunday. The final score was 3-0.
Fethiyespor drop to third place on the league table.
The next league matches are:
Sunday 2nd February at home against Elaziz Belediyespor. Kick off is at 13:30.
Sunday 9th February away against Payasspor. Kick off is at 13:30.
For more information about Fethiyespor please visit Fethiyespor Yabancilar on Facebook
Lokman Hekim Fethiye Belediyespor Basketbol
Thank you to Pauline Yılmaz for the Lokman Hekim Fethiyespor Basketbol updates.
The second half of the TBL basketball season started this weekend.
Fethiye played a home match on Saturday 25 th January, again with fantastic support, a great atmosphere and a packed stadium.
The final result was : Lokman Hekim Fethiye Belediyespor 99 – 91 Anadolu Basket.
Fethiye retain their position at the top of the League table.
Details of the next matches are as follows:
Sunday 2nd February away in Izmir at Enka Spor Salonu: Petkim Spor vs Lokman Hekim Fethiye Belediyespor The match starts at 16:00 There may be organised transport for fans wishing to travel to the match next Sunday – details will be posted on the Team’s Facebook Page
Saturday 8th February at home at Beskaza Sports Stadium: Lokman Hekim Fethiye Belediyespor vs Konyaspor. The match starts at 17:00
All matches are broadcast live on Youtube/TBFTV The Team can be followed on their Facebook Page
Details of all the remaining home and away matches throughout February, March and April are shown in the tables. NB . The Petkim match next weekend has changed date and time to Sunday 2nd February at 16:00
You can follow the Team on their Facebook Page – Lokman Hekim Fethiye Belediyespor Basketbol
Turkish Lira (TL) exchange rates
The British Pound bought 7.76 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 7.66 TL.
The US Dollar bought 5.93 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 5.89 TL.
The Euro bought 6.54 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 6.53 TL.
Source: FxexchangeRate.com
Weather Forecast
Here’s your weather forecast for the week ahead.
Source: Living Earth
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The post Fethiye Times News – Week Ending 26 January 2020 appeared first on Fethiye Times.