Welcome to our pick of last week’s news from Fethiye and around Turkey.
NEWS
New year, new homes for survivors of Elazığ earthquake in Turkey
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Newly built apartment buildings in Elazığ, eastern Turkey, December 29 2020. (AA Photo)
As the anniversary of the devastating earthquake in the eastern province of Elazığ approaches, people of the area breathe a sigh of relief as life returns to normal. The Ministry of Environment and Urban Development recently built 179 brand-new apartments to provide homes for those who were displaced during the 6.8 magnitude earthquake on Jan. 24, 2020.
The cluster of nine apartment blocks are the first to be completed among more than 18,000 residences for survivors.
The newly constructed houses are near two clusters of residential buildings in the neighborhood where 14 people died in the earthquake. Forty-one people were killed and 1,607 others were injured in the disaster which also hit the Malatya province.
Elazığ, like much of the rest of Turkey, is prone to earthquakes though the one in January was the deadliest in recent memory for the province. The province was shaken by a 5.3 magnitude earthquake on Sunday though there were no casualties or significant damage during the earthquake which was also felt in neighboring provinces.
January’s disaster left thousands displaced in Elazığ, as 58 buildings collapsed and 428 buildings were left with critical structural damage following the earthquake. The earthquake also destroyed 315 buildings and heavily damaged 2,424 others in the neighboring Malatya province.
Source: Daily Sabah
Turkish Red Crescent (Türk Kızılay) volunteers from Fethiye are out and about feeding the street animals of Fethiye during the weekend curfews.
The closure of restaurants and cafes and people being restricted to their homes has left many street animals hungry and thirsty at the weekends.
Aybike Şahin, Board Member of the Turkish Red Crescent Fethiye Branch, said in a statement “There was a 4-day restriction at the beginning of the year and we did not forget our street friends during this period. We distributed food to cats and dogs to prevent them from going hungry. We have now been doing this since the curfews began. We ask our citizens to volunteer to Turkish Red Crescent Fethiye Branch to make this a continuous project. We do not want our friends to be alone on the street.”
Turkish Red Crescent feed street animals during curfews
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Turkish Red Crescent (Türk Kızılay) volunteers from Fethiye are out and about feeding the street animals of Fethiye during the weekend curfews.
The closure of restaurants and cafes and people being restricted to their homes has left many street animals hungry and thirsty at the weekends.
Aybike Şahin, Board Member of the Turkish Red Crescent Fethiye Branch, said in a statement “There was a 4-day restriction at the beginning of the year and we did not forget our street friends during this period. We distributed food to cats and dogs to prevent them from going hungry. We have now been doing this since the curfews began. We ask our citizens to volunteer to Turkish Red Crescent Fethiye Branch to make this a continuous project. We do not want our friends to be alone on the street.”
Experts warn of climate change in Turkey as trees bloom early
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Experts warn of climate change as some trees in Istanbul bloomed early this month after a hot December.
Residents of the metropolis witnessed trees blooming in some neighborhoods in the districts of Şişli, Bayrampaşa and Beşiktaş last week.
“The blooming of trees in December is a sign that we are experiencing a tropical climate,” said Murat Türkeş from Boğaziçi University, adding that Istanbul was going through an ecological imbalance.
“We are not living in the fall or spring anymore,” he stated.
According to Doğanay Tolunay from Istanbul University, one of the reasons for such variations in climate is the lack of afforestation where more and more buildings are being constructed. “At the end of this century, Istanbul will be 4 degrees hotter. The temperature in the neighborhoods in the city center like Taksim will be 2 degrees hotter,” she noted.
Türkeş warned the officials of the upcoming agriculture problems due to global warming while Tolunay remarked on the economy.
“We will see the impact of global warming in the economy, industry and tourism sectors. We have to take precautions with a plan to combat such problems immediately,” Tolunay said.
According to Tolunay, the country will be facing a sub-tropical weather system in the near future.
“We will experience either long days of drought or long days of precipitation,” she added.
Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Pamukkale welcomes 625,000 visitors in 2020
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Pamukkale, a natural landmark tourist attraction in the southwestern province of Denizli, hosted a total of 625,000 visitors in 2020, falling short of meeting the target of welcoming 3 million sightseers initially set for the year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2019, a record 2.6 million people visited the tourist hotspot.
Pamukkale is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its mineral-rich thermal waters and white travertine terraces.
As part of the Turkish government’s ant-virus measures, the site was closed to visitors on March 19, but the ban was lifted after 74 days later.
After the country rolled back some of the virus-related restrictions in June, tourists started to visit Pamukkale, which welcomed nearly 230,000 visitors between June and August.
Sightseers visiting the site are still subject to certain rules. Their temperatures are measured, and they are required to wear face masks.
“We had initially expected 3 million tourists to visit Pamukkale, however we ended 2020 with 625,000 visitors. Still, this is a good number of visitors,” said Gazi Murat Şen, the head of the Denizli Touristic Hoteliers’ Association (DENTUROD).
Şen expressed hope that 2021 will be a much better year for the local tourism industry.
Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Filyos to be Turkey’s new energy hub
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Filyos, located on the Black Sea coast, is set to become Turkey’s new energy hub, thanks to the recent Black Sea discovery of 405 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Donmez said on Wednesday.
Speaking at the Karaelmas Mining Martyrs Museum opening ceremony in Turkey’s northern province of Zonguldak through video link, Donmez said that Filyos will be designated as Turkey’s first mega industrial zone.
“It will be Turkey’s new energy hub. The discovery of 405 bcm of natural gas by Fatih [drilling vessel] will come onshore at Filyos and connect to the main grid from there,” he declared.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Filyos project will transform Zonguldak into a shipping hub
Donmez reiterated that this region has allowed for the emergence of a new industry with the production of hard coal, iron and steel.
“And now with the production of natural gas, Zonguldak and the western Black Sea will become a new industrial zone,” he asserted, noting that a strong network of transportation and logistics is currently being established in this region.
The Filyos project, the construction of which started in 2016, is expected to not only provide port services but is also planned to act as a mega logistical center in the Black Sea region. The port will be declared a private industrial district for the operation of medium and high tech firms.
Turkey made the biggest offshore gas discovery in the world in 2020 with 405 bcm of natural gas in the Black Sea this year. Drilling will continue in the first months of the New Year with one of the country’s three drill ships, Kanuni, following preparations at the Filyos Port in Zonguldak.
Source: aa.com.tr
Environmental Agency set up in Turkey
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The Turkish government on Wednesday set up an Environmental Agency, which will operate under the Environment and Urbanization Ministry.
The agency aims at improving the environment and carrying out the zero waste project, launched by the ministry to collect and dispose of waste effectively.
The agency will carry out activities to improve the environment and contribute to the establishment of zero waste management system. It will also facilitate activities aimed at using recyclable waste products to boost the country’s economy.
In order to raise awareness and sensitivity among public, the agency will prepare and publish visual, audio and written material in collaboration with press and broadcasting organizations, and organize campaigns, contests, and promotional activities.
The agency will also carry out activities such as organizing training and certificate programs, conducting scientific studies, and establishing documentation, research and application centers as well as laboratories and museums.
It will cooperate with local administrations within the country and abroad, national and international organizations, universities and non-governmental organizations.
The agency will also develop and execute joint projects and provide financial support to municipalities, provincial administrations, educational institutions and other organizations.
Source: aa.com.tr
SPORT
Thank you to Brian Lloyd for the Fethiyespor updates
Fethiyespor
Match Results
Fethiyespor won their home match against Ağrı 1970 Spor on Wednesday. The final score was 4-1.
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Fethiyespor stay at the top of the league table.
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The next league match is:
The last match of the first half of the season is on Thursday 24th December at home against Tokatspor. Kick off is at 13:00.
Please note: the Turkish Football Federation have made the decision that, due to COVID-19 measures, all games in the first half of the season will be played without spectators.
For more information about Fethiyespor please visit:
Thank you to Yavuz Topateş for the Lokman Hekim Fethiye Belediyespor updates.
Match Results
A critical win for Lokman Hekim Fethiye Belediyespor against HDI Afyon Belediyespor with a final score of 100-89 in the last game of the first half of the season.
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The team haven’t had a win for the last six games due to injuries amongst some of their key players, making it difficult for head coach, Alkım Ay to form a squad. Four of the top five players were only on the field for 35-37 minutes of the match with only a five point contribution.
Playing one of the best games of his career with 14 points, 9 assists, 3 rebounds and 3 steals, Erdem İlter found himself as the main playmaker of the team after Emir Gökalp was also injured as well as team’s brain, Erick Neal.
Highlights
LH Fethiye Belediyespor: Erdem İlter 14 points, 3 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals, Abdul Malik Abu 19 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, Elgin Cook 23 points (7/7 three pointers), 3 rebounds, 4 assists, Darion Ray Atkins 18 points (3/5 three pointers), 4 rebounds, 4 assists, Branden Frazier 21 points (3/6 three pointers), 2 rebounds, 6 assists
