The number of fatalities in the fire that erupted in a rural area between the provinces of Mardin and Amed (Diyarbakir) has risen to 14. Fadil Demir died of his serious burn injuries in a hospital in Amed during the night and was buried in the village of Yücebağ (Kelekê) in Mardin’s Mazıdağı district. Most of the victims come from the village, where nine people were buried in a mass funeral yesterday. The other victims from Yücebağ were identified as Rezan Yılmaz, Azat Yılmaz, Mazher Demir, Nuri Demir, Taliha Demir, Hasan Demir, Şeyhmus Demir, Resul Yılmaz and Sinan Deviren.

The other four victims are from the district of Çinar (Xana Axpar) in Amed. Kerime Erdenli from Yazçiçeği (Helberê) died in hospital, while İsmail Yardım was laid to rest in the village. Ubeydullah Buğdaycı and Abdurrahman Buğdaycı were buried in the village of Köksalan (Tobinî).

The fire that broke out on Thursday evening was caused by a short circuit on an electricity pylon. The people from the affacted villages accuse the Turkish authorities of negligence and delayed intervention. The power lines were laid in 1987 and never maintained. It was only on Friday morning, when the fire was finally brought under control, that helicopters flew over the area, which was difficult for vehicles to access. Dozens of people suffered injuries and at least five people are still in a critical condition. Hundreds of animals also fell victim to the flames and all life was destroyed in a large area.