Welcome to our pick of last week’s news from Fethiye and around Turkey.
Today’s featured image of the ruins at TLOS was taken by Lyn Ward
NEWS
Elazığ earthquake – rescue efforts end and recovery begins
National aid has continued to flow from all over Turkey to the quake-hit areas in Elazığ.
The magnitude 6.8 quake which struck on January 24 caused 37 deaths in Elazığ province, about 550 km (340 miles) east of Ankara, and four in neighboring Malatya.
Right after the earthquake, metropolitan and district municipalities, including those of Ankara, Istanbul and İzmir, had dispatched their rescue teams as well as food and water trucks adequate for thousands of people.
As overnight temperatures dropped to below zero degrees, emergency teams set up more than 25,000 tents for displaced residents as well as 400 general-purpose tents.
AFAD said it had sent more than 27,430 beds, 66,751 blankets, 4,312 heaters and 6,436 packages food supplies to affected areas.
Some 50,960 hot meals were also distributed to quake victims.
During a press conference with ministers on January 28, Environment and Urbanization Minister Murat Kurum said the construction of 3,850 residences has started. Mass sheltering centers with soup kitchens will be provided during the construction period.
According to AFAD, an aid campaign has, so far, raised a total of 56,871,047 Turkish Liras have been collected for the quake victims.
Turkey called off rescue operations on January 27 after emergency workers recovered the body of the final person they were searching for under a collapsed building, bringing the death toll to 41.
Sources: aa.com.tr/Hürriyet Daily News
42 evacuees land in Turkey from virus-hit China
A Turkish military cargo plane landed in Ankara on Saturday with 42 evacuees from China’s Wuhan city, the epicenter of the deadly coronavirus outbreak.
The patients – including 32 Turks, six Azerbaijanis, three Georgians and one Albanian – boarded the plane after they were found not to show coronavirus symptoms in initial examinations.
After landing, the passengers on board were transferred to Zekai Tahir Burak Hospital in Ankara where they are quarantined for 14 days in line with the coronavirus incubation period.
Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca was on the tarmac when the plane landed in Ankara.
Koca told reporters that no passengers on the evacuation flight showed signs of coronavirus infection.
He underlined that Turkey would leave none of its nationals behind, no matter where they were.
The minister also reiterated that no cases of coronavirus have been found so far in Turkey.
The coronavirus, so named because under the microscope it resembles a crown, has killed at least 304 people in China, with nearly 19,544 infected. More than 137,600 people are under medical observation.
Travelers from China are being screened for the virus at airports worldwide. Several airlines have suspended flights to Wuhan.
Source: aa.com.tr
Record number of tourists visit Turkey in 2019
According to figures released by the Turkish Statistical Institute on Friday, Turkey attracted a record number of visitors in 2019.
The official (TÜİK) data showed that 51.9 million people visited Turkey, a rise of 13.7 percent from the previous year. 86.2 percent of visitors were foreigners and the remaining 13.8 percent were Turkish citizens residing overseas.
Istanbul, the country’s world-famous touristic city, was the top arriving destination with nearly 15 million tourists, accounting for 33 percent of all foreign visitors in 2019.
The Mediterranean resort city of Antalya followed it with 14.65 million foreign visitors last year.
The statistics also showed that Turkey’s tourism revenues hit $34.5 billion in 2019, a new record high. The figure jumped 17 percent last year, up from $29.5 billion in 2018.
Data showed that visitors spent the most on food and beverages (nearly
$1.1 billion), and accommodation ($1 billion) last year.
Source: Hürriyet Daily News
HSBC considering exit from Turkey
HSBC is considering selling its Turkey business amid concerns about the country’s volatile currency and economic outlook, sources familiar with the matter said.
A spokeswoman for HSBC declined to comment.
HSBC will seek to sell its banking business in Turkey if it can find a local buyer, the sources said, adding that no final decision has yet been taken.
The bank’s retreat from Turkey, where it has operated since 1990, would be one of the biggest exits from a country it has made in recent years as it shrinks its once globe-spanning empire.
HSBC has already shrunk its presence from some 315 branches and around 6,000 staff in 2013 to around 80 branches and 2,000 staff as of September last year, according to data from the Banks Association of Turkey.
Interim CEO Quinn is expected to announce his cost-cutting measures when the bank reports annual results and its new strategy on Feb. 18. More here…
Source: reuters.com
SPORT
Thank you to Brian Lloyd for the Fethiyespor updates.
Fethiyespor
Player update:
Fethiyspor have had a busy week signing up new players in the winter transfer period.
Fethiyespor signed an 18-month contract with 18-year-old Talha Bulut, a winger from Antalyaspor.
The club signed a contract with 18-year-old Eren Erdoğan, a forward from Altay SK.
They also signed an 18 month contract with 18-year-old Mert Çölgeçen, a midfielder from Antalyaspor.
Left-back Ufuk Boncukçu from Ofspor also signed a 12-month contract with Fethiyespor this week.
It looks like top player and goal scorer Anil Gir, will be unable to play for the rest of the season due to a knee injury. Gir will undergo treatment for the injury in Istanbul. His team mates and the club wish him a speedy recovery.
This week’s results:
Fethiyespor management paid a pre-match visit to the Elazığ Belediyespor management team to pass on their condolences for those who lost their lives in the earthquake last week.
Fethiyespor won their home match against Elazığ Belediyespor on Sunday. The final score was 2-0.
Fethiyespor stay in third place on the league table.
The next league matches are:
Sunday 9th February away against Payasspor. Kick off is at 13:00.
Wednesday 19th February at home against Cizrespor. 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 update.
Our team lost their away match at Aliaga, Izmir on Sunday. The final result was Petkim Spor 86 – 72 Lokman Hekim Fethiye Belediyespor
The next match is on Saturday 8th February at Beskaza Sports Stadium:
Lokman Hekim Fethiye Belediyespor vs Konyaspor. The match starts at 17:00
February matches:
Everyone is welcome.
All matches are broadcast live on Youtube/TBFTV The Team can be followed on their Facebook Page
You can follow the Team on their Facebook Page – Lokman Hekim Fethiye Belediyespor Basketbol
Turkish Lira (TL) exchange rates
The British Pound bought 7.89 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 7.76 TL.
The US Dollar bought 5.98 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 5.93 TL.
The Euro bought 6.63 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 6.54 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 02 February 2020 appeared first on Fethiye Times.