In this week’s round up of the local news:

Tandem paraglider has a minor accident, Oludeniz air games announced, British man buried, Autmnal weather dampens the area and crunch time hits local businesses.

Take Off Woes

The week began with yet another paragliding accident when a young Turkish pilot, 24-year old Ferdi Güven, took off from Babadağ with an English holidaymaker Catherine Elliott aged 51, as his tandem passenger.

Fortunately for both parties the accident happened as Ferdi was trying to take off when he trod on a stone and went over breaking his ankle.

Other people at the scene quickly rescued the unlucky pair who were in danger of being blown off the mountain by gusting wind.

Catherine had minor cuts only.

Local paragliding companies are calling for more investment in the take off area.

Air Games Announced

And the start date for the 10^th Ölüdeniz Air Games was announced last week.

The Games is expecting participation from over 400 air sports addicts representing 40 different countries.

It kicks off on 14^th October and more information will follow nearer the date when the timetable is fixed.

With Regret

And a Melvyn Morris a British resident of Çaltıözü, near Kemer, Fethiye, died of cancer this week and converted to Islam a mere two hours before his death.

He was buried in the village cemetery with traditional Muslim funeral.

Autumnal Weather

This week’s torrential rain hit parts of Turkey very hard especially parts of Istanbul where floods occurred.

Fethiye wasn’t immune to the unseasonal downpours and residents and business owners in Hisarönü and Ölüdeniz were affected on Friday night and Saturday.

Streets in both locations quickly turned into muddy torrents, with the mud sweeping into ground floor shops, restaurants and bars.

Crunch Time

The Chair of the Muğla Chamber of Commerce and Industry issued a sobering press statement this week in which he stated that over 2,600 small business have closed across the province of Muğla in the first eight months of this year.

Marmaris headed the list with a total of 879 business closures compared to Fethiye’s 423.

He blamed very cheap all inclusive holidays for contributing to the woe’s of small business owners especially in Marmaris, and asked for Government support for small businesses in Muğla.