The last member of the helicopter crew that crashed into Tahtalı Creek while fighting the forest fire in the Menderes district of Türkiye’s Izmir province last Saturday was found dead.
Despite his injuries, Isabekov Erkinbek, a Kyrgyz national, managed to swim to shore after the crash. The other two members, named Ianshanlo Lamzar and Oleg Agaev, were removed from the wreckage yesterday.
In Türkiye’s Bursa province, Karaoğlan Village in the Mustafakemalpaşa district now hosts the highest number of stork nests in the region, boasting 32 nests—eight times more than the famous Eskikaraağaç “Stork Village.”
Located on the shores of Lake Uluabat, one of Europe’s key wetlands, Karaoğlan has become a haven for storks. The village is home to around 400 households and over 200 storks, meaning there is one stork for every two homes.
Village Headman Ergün Kısa said Karaoğlan, already known as the “Water Buffalo Village” for its 1,800 buffalo, is now also a stork hotspot thanks to its proximity to water sources and rich farmlands. He added, “Eskikaraağaç has one Yaren stork, but we have many. Our village is the richest in terms of stork numbers.”
The storks, known for their farewell flights over the village before migration, have made Karaoğlan a natural wonder resembling a “stork city.”
Zafer Akpınar – Uğur Uslubaş – Abdullah Çibir
TR