Extremely powerful fires have destroyed villages and forests in Turkey over the past week.Critics have accused President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government of being slow to act and lacking readiness for large fires.The fires in Turkey's Turquoise Coast began Wednesday and have been made worse with strong winds and hot temperatures.They have left eight people dead and forced thousands to leave their homes. Some villagers have lost farmland and animals.Firefighters on Tuesday were still fighting nine fires in the coastal parts of Antalya and Mugla that are popular tourist areas.Other fires were reported in the areas of Adana and Isparta.Officials said 137 fires in 30 provinces have been put out since Wednesday.A senior Turkish forestry official spoke to The Associated Press about the crisis.He said the forest fires were the worst in Turkey in recent years.He did not know how much land the fires had destroyed or how long it would take to put them out.
