Istanbul [Turkiye], July 1 (ANI): Turkiye is grappling with fierce wildfires for a second consecutive day in the western province of Izmir, prompting the evacuation of over 50,000 residents from 41 affected areas, according to local authorities cited by Al Jazeera.
Turkish Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli stated that strong overnight winds, reaching speeds of 40-50 km/h (25-30 mph), intensified fires in the Kuyucak and Doganbey regions. Over 1,000 personnel, supported by helicopters, firefighting aircraft, and ground vehicles, have been mobilized to contain the blazes.
The Turkish disaster agency AFAD confirmed the mass evacuations in a post on X, saying, “A total of over 50,000 citizens from 41 settlements have been temporarily relocated to safe areas.”
Operations at Izmir’s Adnan Menderes Airport were suspended as thick smoke blanketed the area. Visuals from the scene showed charred hillsides, helicopters dousing flames with water, and residents using tractors outfitted with water tanks to help fight the fires.
Firefighting efforts faced additional challenges as strong winds grounded helicopters, forcing water-bombing planes and ground crews to take the lead. The initial blaze broke out Sunday between the Seferihisar and Menderes districts and quickly escalated due to gusts of up to 117 km/h (75 mph), according to Izmir Governor Suleyman Elban.
In a separate incident, a fire erupted at a landfill site in Gaziemir, approximately 13 km (8 miles) from central Izmir. The blaze spread into surrounding forested areas, threatening the Otokent industrial zone, home to numerous car dealerships.
Turkiye’s coastal regions have become increasingly vulnerable to wildfires in recent years, driven by hotter and drier summers linked to climate change. The same Izmir region experienced a significant wildfire just last year. (ANI)
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