A stubble fire that broke out on Thursday in the southeastern provinces of Mardin and Diyarbakir has resulted in the deaths of five people and injuries to at least 28 others.

Local sources reported that the fire erupted in the area between Diyarbakir’s Cinar district and Mardin’s Mazidagi district. The blaze, which began when farmers were burning stubble, quickly spread out of control due to strong winds.

“Unfortunately, three of our citizens in Diyarbakir and two of our citizens in Mardin lost their lives in the fire. Eleven of our citizens in Diyarbakir and eighteen of our citizens in Mardin were injured. The treatment of our injured citizens is ongoing,” Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on in a statement on X.

According to Yerlikaya, firefighters successfully contained the blaze by around 10:15 pm local time. Health Minister Fahrettin Koca confirmed the deployment of 35 ambulances and seven medical rescue teams to the affected area.

This incident underscores the dangers of stubble burning, a common practice employed by farmers for its cost-effectiveness and ease of implementation. However, the technique carries the risk of uncontrolled wildfires, especially in windy conditions. (ILKHA)