ISTANBUL, Turkey (CNN) -- Turkey's environment and forestry minister reported Saturday what could be the first death related to a blaze that has destroyed nearly 9,800 acres (4,000 hectares) in the coastal province of Antalya, according to CNN Turk.
Veysel Eroglu said in a statement that a body had been found in the village of Karatas, near Serik in southern Turkey, CNN Turk said. The body has not been identified, Eroglu said.
Earlier, Eroglu told reporters that two elderly people had been missing in the region since Friday, a day after the fires began, CNN Turk reported.
He said that the fire may have been caused by power lines affected by fierce winds, although he emphasized that the cause was still under investigation, the network said.
The massive blaze has destroyed some 60 houses in the region, Eroglu said, although he said the flames were "under control to a substantial extent," CNN Turk reported.
Coastal Antalya, with its Mediterranean beaches and archaeological sites rich in classical antiquities, is one Turkey's most popular tourist destinations.
Earlier Saturday, a spokesman for Turkey's forestry directorate described the inferno as the "largest and most destructive" the province of Antalya has ever seen.
At one point, the fire was a mere 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from the second-century Roman theater of Aspendos, although officials say the building -- regarded as the best-preserved amphitheater in Turkey -- was never in danger.
Other popular tourist areas, including the resort town of Side and the city of Antalya itself, are outside the danger zone.
Thick smoke and the remoteness of the affected region have hampered the work of the firefighters, who came from all over Turkey.
Officials said they were simply hoping for the best as helicopters dumped their loads of water through black billowing clouds.
Mountain villagers were evacuated ahead of the advancing wall of flames as forestry workers worked desperately to plow a fire line to contain the blaze.
Many residents have returned to find their homes and livelihood in cinders.
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