IZMIR, TURKIYE
Over 50,000 people have been evacuated from 41 settlements in Turkiye’s western province of Izmir as wildfires continues fanned by strong winds and scorching summer heat.
Operations at Izmir’s Adnan Menderes Airport were temporarily suspended, local media reported, as thick smoke and advancing flames threatened surrounding areas. The fires, which broke out Sunday between the Seferihisar and Menderes districts, rapidly spread due to wind speeds reaching up to 117kmph (75mph), according to Governor Suleyman Elban.
Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli confirmed that helicopters, fire-extinguishing aircraft, water trailers, and over 1,000 firefighters have been deployed to contain the inferno. However, strong winds on Monday morning grounded aerial operations, forcing ground crews to tackle the flames under dangerous conditions.
The Turkish disaster agency AFAD announced that more than 50,000 citizens have been relocated to safe areas, with the majority evacuated from regions near the popular coastal city of Izmir.
Dramatic footage aired by local media showed helicopters dumping water on hills covered in thick smoke and burnt trees, while residents of Urkmez village were seen cutting down trees to form makeshift firebreaks around their homes.
In a separate incident, a fire broke out at a landfill in Gaziemir, just 13km (8 miles) from central Izmir, quickly spreading to nearby forests and endangering the Otokent industrial zone, home to several car dealerships. One dealership was shown engulfed in flames in a video by Turkish broadcaster NTV.
Wildfires have increasingly plagued Turkiye’s coastal regions in recent years, a crisis scientists link to worsening climate change. Just last year, Izmir suffered another major wildfire in a similar location.
Emergency response teams continue to battle the flames amid rising temperatures and unpredictable winds, with officials urging residents to remain on high alert.
