News in Brief: July 22

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Update

Big fire draws crowds

HELICOPTERS, airplanes and fire crews were utilized to combat a massive fire in shrubland over towards the Yesilkent road – with the smoke being seen across Didim.

The fire, which is still under investigation, wrecked acres of olive groves and shrubland at about 12 noon on Monday July 13.

Scores of people watched as a sea-carrying helicopter and an airplane overflew the area and dumped gallons of water on the fire in a bid to stop it spreading.

Fire crews from Didim and Aydin turned out for a ground battle as the fire threatened to spread due to high winds in the area.

The blaze took two hours to control.

Vehicles impounded by traffic police

DRIVERS have been warned to park more sensibly or face their vehicles being towed away and impounded.

Didim traffic police units have been issuing fines and towing vehicles away where drivers have parked them illegally.

The units are cracking down due to the increase in traffic from domestic and foreign visitors, limited availability of parking and the new parking scheme introduced on a number of roads, particularly in the Altinkum neighbourhood.

Korfball tournie on Main Beach

DIDIM’S Main beach was the scene of the 3rd Korfball tournament with teams from across Turkey taking part.

Teams from a host of universities took part in the specalised-form of beach handball between July 10-12.

Didim Belediye came first, having beaten Marmara University and Ankara University.

Talks begin on 20th Peace Festival

DIDIM Belediye has begun early in setting out plans for the 20th Peace Festival for Didim.

They festival began as an event to promote peace between Greece and Turkey, but has since been adopted to promote peace internationally.

The event usually includes a walk to the Peace Flame, a Peace run from the Apollo to Altinkum Main Beach, children’s shows and panel forums.

The pre-meet up for the 20th festival was organized on Monday July 13 and hosted by council member Salih Bankoğlu. The meeting attracted representatives of the city council, civil society organizations, as well as chambers and local associations.

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday July 22 at Didim Municipality Assembly hall meeting for all NGOs.

Four dead in migrant disaster

THE NUMBER of people confirmed dead in last week’s sinking of boats of Syrain refugeses off Didim’s coast has grown to four.

Of 46 people said to have been on the inflatables at two points close to Imbat and Parliamentari sitesi, four have been confirmed dead, 21 were rescued and 21 are still missing.

Coast guard authorities are said to still be conducting searches in the areas.

Hotels sector gets an ear

THE HEAD of the Didim Tourism Infrastructure Service Association (DİTAB) – effectively the resort’s tourism sector body – has visited a total of 150 hotels in the area to listen owners’ problems.

President Sevinç Karataş visited all the hotel enterprises operating in the district to review their operations, listen to their concerns, and seek to move forward with a mandate with the Mayor Deniz Atabay.

Mr Karataş pledged that the hotel sector would be listened to and further updates on liaisons with the mayor would be carried through over the course of the next several weeks.

 

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