Turkish firefighters have brought under control a wildfire on the Gallipoli Peninsula that raised fears the blaze could reach Australian war graves at Anzac Cove.
Crews have been battling four summer wildfires that broke out this week in western parts of the country, including in Canakkale province, which is the site of memorials where thousands of Australian and New Zealand soldiers lost their lives in World War I.
At a news conference with his New Zealand counterpart Chris Luxon, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Gallipoli was “sacred ground to both of our countries”.
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“Our thoughts today are also with our friends in Turkey,” he said in Canberra on Friday.
“We understand there are efforts underway to control fires that are burning on the Gallipoli Peninsula.
“Some 60,000 Australians served at Gallipoli during the eight-month campaign and 8700 Australians lost their lives.
“Eighteen thousand were wounded during the campaign and there were more than 7200 Australians buried in cemeteries or listed as missing there.
“Our thoughts today are with those who continue to care for those cemeteries and welcome thousands of Australians who visit Anzac headstones each year as they endure these difficult times.”
The RSL said it was monitoring the situation on the Gallipoli Peninsula but there was no confirmation that Australian war graves and memorials had been damaged.
RSL Australia president Greg Melick said he understood the Anzac site had been closed to help fire crews.
“We are confident that the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, local authorities and firefighters will do all they can to protect and rehabilitate the sacred sites and monuments, but we understand that the situation is serious and remain concerned,” he said.
Turkish Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumaklı said the fire in Canakkale was under control, while a blaze in Manisa province’s Gordes district was partially contained.
Efforts continued to battle the other two in the Goynuk district of Bolu province and the Karsiyaka district in Izmir.
He said the Canakkale blaze had been caused by a roadside electricity pole, but it was not clear what caused the others.
Firefighters would remain on high alert for the next few days, the minister said, noting that high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds added to fire risks.
– with Reuters