Locals battle raging wildfires in popular Turkey holiday destination
Dramatic television footage showed flames and thick smoke engulfing areas near high-rise apartments in Antalya, a popular holiday destination for both domestic and international tourists.
As the fires spread, authorities evacuated homes in the city centre and the nearby Aksu district, according to the private news agency DHA.
Firefighters fought tirelessly to contain the blazes, but strong winds hampered their efforts, threatening to push the flames further and forcing the closure of a major coastal highway.
Further east along the coast, properties in the city of Manavgat were also under serious threat.
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Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
The 10 best things to do in Zakynthos
Zakynthos, also known as Zante, holds a varied selection of attractions – impressive for such a small island – from its scenic coast to charming villages. The southern coastline is home to loggerhead sea turtles on the pristine beaches of Zakynthos Marine Park, while the northern coast boasts the famed Navagio Beach. Look for cultural activies in Zante Town, and be sure to sample the island's grapes at one of the local wineries, known for signature white wines. Whether you're staying for a weekend or a week, here's our expert selection of must-dos on the island. For further Zante inspiration, see our guides to the island's best hotels, restaurants and nightlife. Plan an extended visit with our ultimate guide to planning a Greek island-hopping holiday. Trainaki Take the train The white trainaki (little train) which trundles out of Zante town to Kalamaki's café-lined beach – stopping off en route to discover perfume workshops (scents are inspired by Mediterranean landscapes), and ceramic workshops selling Byzantine-style crocks – is an ideal and eco-friendly way to see the island's sights. Another train leaving from Alykes beach chugs through ancient olive groves to visit the high flung mountain villages of Katastari and Pigadakia, and culminates in a boozy tasting session: local Graigos wine served with spicy lado tyri cheese and other specialties in the tree-shaded tavern Kaki Rahi. Zakynthos' Marine Park Discover the wildlife Zante is a haven for the endangered loggerhead turtle that clamber ashore to lay their eggs on the protected beaches of Zakynthos' Marine Park. Other critically endangered species that can be found frolicking in this protected zone, which stretches from wild and lonely Cape Marathia to Gerakas' talc-soft beach, include doe-eyed Mediterranean monk seals. To get up close without disturbing them, take a day trip to Marathonissi – better known as Turtle Island – with eco-friendly experts Nefis Travel. Insider's tip: Never disturb the turtles, or stay on the beaches after sunset when they could be nesting or hatching out. Boat tours Hitch a boat ride Some of the island's best attractions can only be reached by boat: Skinari is the starting point for half-day excursions to get a glimpse of Navagio, or Shipwreck beach, the dramatically picturesque cliff-framed sandy cove which earns its name from the rusted hulk of the MV Panagiotis, washed up here after an epic storm in the 1980s. Most trips also stop off at the Blue Caves, so-called because their pale limestone walls give the sea a ghostly turquoise hue. Insider's tip: The Navagio viewpoint near Volimes village is accessible by road, but it's impossible to access the beach from this high-flung spot. Solomos Museum Meet the literatis Dig deep into the soul of this culture-loving island at the Solomos Museum, which is dedicated to Greece's national poet, who was born here in 1798. The poet's primrose-yellow neoclassical home, which was bombed during the Second World War, contains an eclectic and fascinating selection of the writer's personal artefacts: look out for the desk where Dionysios penned the country's rousing national anthem in 1823 and the mausoleum on the ground floor which contains the poet's bones. Insider's tip: Don't miss the other rooms dedicated to the life and times of other famous island scholars, including celebrated Greek Revolution poet Andreas Kalvos. Zante town Stroll the streets Destroyed by a major earthquake in 1953, then rebuilt in Venetian style, Zante town's (semi-pedestrian) paved streets are lined with an elegant collection of buildings – low and well proportioned, with porticoes and pastel-painted facades – many of them are home to cafés and craft boutiques. Insider's tip: Look out for the Provençal-style façade of Archontiko Roma. One of the few buildings that wasn't reduced to rubble, this 17th-century mansion which once belonged to President of the Greek Parliament Alexander Roma is now a small museum – family portraits, works of art and period furniture give an intriguing insight into the once lavish lifestyle of the island's aristocracy, but it is not often open so call before visiting. Bochali Admire the views A winding road just outside of Zante town leads to Bochali, a pretty pine-scented suburb where the ruined battlements of the island's battered 15th-century castle offer eagle-eye views over Zante's red-tiled roofs, glittering harbour and the dense pine forests and sand beaches of distant Vassilikos peninsula. Enter the incense-scented Zoodoxo Pigi church to see richly gilded Byzantine icons, and then hike back down to Bochali village nearby and order a beer and meze snacks in one of the cafés clustered around the square. Insider's tip: Phone in advance to check that the church is open. Askos Stone Park Roam with local deer Families will love Askos Stone Park, named for its pond-sized 13th-century stone cisterns, whose tranquil green waters now squawk with ducks. Friendly guides lead walks out along the wooded hiking trails of this small nature park surrounded by dense pine forest: to pluck and sniff the wild thyme and oregano used to flavour countless local dishes, or to (hopefully) encounter Roe deer that run wild here. Children can also pick peaches and apples in the orchard or pet the farm animals which include portly pot-bellied pigs and fluffy chinchilla rabbits. Visit a winery Sample local grapes Historically, most of the island's grape production was exported as currants – even so, Zante's dry, highly alcoholic wine is well worth sampling in one of the island's half a dozen wineries. The typical local wine is the oak-barrel-aged, intensely flavoured, highly acidic white Verdea, which has been produced here since the 19th century – another must-try is the silky-sweet Lianoroidi white. Sample both at Art and Wine, the Giatras-Gkoumas family's century-old wine estate in the island's north east region. Owner Giannis is also a skilled icon painter. Insider's tip: Hire a car – most wineries are well off the beaten track. Aristeon Olive Press Learn about the local olive oil The 2,000-year-old olive tree in the village of Exo Hora is living proof that world class extra virgin olive oil has been produced on Zante for millennia. Aristeon Olive Press is a (rather characterless) modern factory producing some of the island's best organic oil, but the small well-organised museum inside is packed with olive oil-making paraphernalia – age-pitted stone mills, ancient wooden presses and tall clay pots. An informative guided visit is followed by a tasting session, when crusty local bread is dipped into fruity green oil. Panagia Skopiotissa Hike to a high place From the resort of Kalamaki on Zante's south east coast, it's a long, steep hike along thyme-scented, boulder-strewn paths to reach Panagia Skopiotissa (the island's oldest monastery), but it's well worth it for the views from this lofty leafy mountaintop whose name – Skopos – means watchtower. The monastery has been abandoned for decades, but the walls of the stocky 15th-century church blaze with 17th-century frescoes – the real gem is the gilded Panagia Skopiotissa icon said to have been brought here from Constantinople in 1341. Insider's tip: Ask for the keys to the church at Skopos' small café. How we choose Every attraction and activity in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets and styles, from world-class museums to family-friendly theme parks – to best suit every type of traveller. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up to date recommendations. About our expert Heidi Fuller-Love I'm a fan of traditional music, and have spent many summers listening to kanthades in Zante's kafeneions and hiking the island's remotest goat trails.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
2 volunteers die fighting Turkey wildfires, raising deaths to 17 since late June
The death toll from wildfires outside the city of Bursa in northwest Turkey rose to four late Sunday after two volunteer firefighters died. The pair died in hospital after they were pulled from a water tanker that rolled while heading to a forest fire, news agency IHA reported. Another worker died earlier at the scene of the accident and a firefighter died Sunday after suffering a heart attack. Their deaths raised Turkey's wildfire fatalities to 17 since late June, including 10 rescue volunteers and forestry workers killed Wednesday in a fire in Eskisehir, western Turkey. Huge fires around Bursa, Turkey's fourth-largest city, broke out over the weekend, leading to more than 3,500 people fleeing their homes. On Monday morning, fog-like smoke from ongoing fires and smouldering foliage hung over the city. Unseasonably high temperatures, dry conditions and strong winds have been fueling the wildfires, with Turkey and other parts of the eastern Mediterranean experiencing record-breaking heatwaves. The fires around Bursa were among hundreds to have hit Turkey over the past month. While firefighting teams have contained the damage to a limited number of homes, vast tracts of forest have been turned to ash. The water tanker crew comprised volunteers from nearby Bolu province heading to the village of Aglasan, northeast of Bursa, to combat a blaze when the vehicle fell into a ditch while negotiating a rough forest track, IHA reported. Turkey battled at least 44 separate fires Sunday, Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said late Sunday. He identified two fires in Bursa province, as well as blazes in Karabuk, northwest Turkey, and Kahramanmaras in the south, as the most serious. The government declared disaster areas in two western provinces, Izmir and Bilecik. Prosecutions have been launched against 97 people in 33 of Turkey's 81 provinces in relation to the fires, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said. A crowd of people gathered Sunday evening outside a police station in the village of Harmancik, 57 kilometers (35 miles) south of Bursa, after learning a suspected arsonist was detained there. The angry crowd demanded for the suspect to be handed over to them. The crowd dispersed after police assured them a thorough investigation would be undertaken.
The Guardian
4 hours ago
- The Guardian
Muscovites' travel plans disrupted as Ukraine targets airspace with drones
Early in the morning on Monday last week, Vladimir Shevchuk, 38, his wife, and their two children arrived at Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow, suitcases full of beachwear and ready to fly to the Turkish beach destination Antalya for a long-planned summer break. Like tens of thousands of Muscovites, the Shevchuks were hoping to escape the city's heat for their summer holidays, until an announcement rang out across the terminal: all flights suspended. They spent the day – and night – sleeping on the airport's concrete floor, waiting for updates. It wasn't until the next morning that they were told their flight had been rescheduled for later in the week. 'We saved up for this trip for a year,' Shevchuk said. 'Our hotel and car rental can't be reimbursed, and we simply can't reschedule.' Tens of thousands of passengers like Shevchuk have seen their travel plans thrown into chaos in recent weeks, as Ukrainian drones repeatedly disrupt airspace over Russia's capital. What began as isolated interruptions have evolved into a systematic Ukrainian campaign, aimed at bringing the war home to ordinary Russians – many of whom have otherwise experienced it only from their television screens. Their inconvenience is trivial compared with the daily reality faced by Ukrainian civilians, who live under the constant threat of deadly missile and drone attacks. But for many Russians – who have largely remained insulated from the direct impacts of Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 – this may be the most tangible sign yet that the conflict has begun to intrude on their everyday lives. While few Ukrainian drones make it through the heavily fortified air defences around Moscow, their relative cheapness compared with the chaos they cause makes them an efficient means of targeting Russia's sense of stability. The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has long abandoned efforts to persuade ordinary Russians to oppose the war. Instead, Kyiv's strategy seems focused on making the cost of continued aggression impossible to ignore – not just because of the coffins returning from the frontline, but through growing disruptions to daily life. Ukrainian officials have not yet formally commented on the tactic, but they have emphasised repeatedly that life in Russia should not remain comfortable for a population that, by and large, continues to support the war. And the tactic seems to be bearing fruit: regular airport shutdowns and missed holidays have become a major talking point among the Russian public – and a growing source of frustration. Beyond the anecdotal stories of missed holidays and ruined business trips, there is a very real and mounting economic cost for Russia's aviation industry, already strained by western sanctions. During the most severe wave of travel disruption to date, from 6-7 July, airlines across the country cancelled 485 flights and delayed about 1,900 more, according to Russia's federal air transport agency. More than 43,000 forced ticket refunds were issued, 94,000 passengers were placed in hotels, and more than 350,000 food and drink vouchers were handed out. 'It's not just a headache. The drones completely disrupt our operations,' said a senior manager at one of Moscow's main airports, speaking on condition of anonymity. 'We can't go on like this forever,' the manager added. The plane chaos appears to have caught the attention of Russia's leadership. Earlier this month, Putin dismissed the country's transport minister without offering any official explanation. But the risks for Russia in keeping its skies open are stark. In December last year, 38 people were killed when Russian air defences mistakenly shot down an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet that crashed in Kazakhstan, during an attempt to intercept a Ukrainian drone targeting Grozny airport. The incident has triggered an unprecedented diplomatic rift with Azerbaijan. Russian airports are preparing for the chaos to become a permanent feature. At Sheremetyevo, the country's busiest airport, staff were filmed last Tuesday handing out mattresses to stranded passengers. Several major international carriers that continue to operate flights to Russia – including Turkish Airlines and Emirates – have reportedly begun adjusting their schedules to account for the increasingly frequent airspace shutdowns. For Shevchuk, the upheaval did little to shake his support for Russia's war in Ukraine. 'The sooner we put an end to Ukraine, the better,' he said. When asked whether the experience had made him reflect on the daily suffering and bombardment faced by Ukrainian civilians, he shrugged. 'That's not my problem. Why should our lives be affected by this?'
