Devastating wildfires sweep Turkey, prompting evacuations
Wildfires are devastating Turkey, with at least 77 new blazes erupting in just 24 hours. Over a thousand firefighters have been mobilized to battle the flames, but their efforts are being hampered by strong winds and sweltering weather.
Residents from four villages, as well as several areas in Izmir and Antalya, have been evacuated as a precautionary measure, and flights at Izmir International Airport have been temporarily suspended.
As scorching temperatures continue to grip Turkey, more wildfires have broken out in various regions of the country. Thermometers are showing over 40 degrees Celsius in the Aegean Sea region. Wildfires have erupted in Izmir, Bursa, Tekirdag, Sakarya, and Adana. Wind gusts of up to 100 kilometers per hour are making it difficult to control the flames, which are rapidly approaching the tourist town of Menderes in Izmir province. Over a thousand firefighters, 11 planes, and 27 helicopters are fighting the inferno. The flames are threatening homes, and at least three people have been hospitalized due to smoke inhalation.
"The fire just reached the houses in the valley. I'm not sure what will happen next. There are a lot of homes there. There's also a summer camp in the forest. I hoped the flames wouldn't cross the road, but it wasn't meant to be. The wind is extremely strong."
"Due to strong winds and dry weather, the fire has rapidly moved towards Menderes – the wind is blowing in that direction, and we cannot keep the flames under control. Our ground teams are working, but gusts are reaching 70-100 kilometers per hour, rendering aerial units inoperable," stated Izmir Governor Suleyman Elban.
In Antalya, fires broke out in three parts of the city, and residents from several neighborhoods were evacuated as a precautionary measure. Ground and aerial firefighting teams are trying to keep the flames under control. However, firefighters faced a tragic setback in Adana, where a plane crashed while attempting to scoop water from the Seyhan Dam reservoir. The aircraft went down during a low-altitude maneuver. Authorities have arrested a person suspected of starting the fire in the Bouca area of Izmir. According to CNN Turk, the man allegedly set his home on fire with gasoline, sparking the forest blaze.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
