Northwest Türkiye wildfires contained after mass evacuations Photo

On August 12, firefighters managed to contain multiple wildfires that swept through Türkiye, including a significant blaze in the northwestern province of Çanakkale, which forced hundreds of residents to evacuate their homes.

On August 11, both Çanakkale airport and the Dardanelles Strait — the crucial waterway linking the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara — were temporarily closed due to the wildfires, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

According to Agriculture and Forestry Minister İbrahim Yumaklı, the fires in Çanakkale province, along the southern edge of the Dardanelles Strait, and in the western province of İzmir have now been fully brought under control.

Among those affected was Tugbağul Altan Gülgün, 40, who described the swift evacuation of her family. "We left our home within minutes, only taking a few belongings," she said.

Gülgün explained how she tried to minimise the danger by removing flammable materials and watering nearby trees and surfaces.

However, their house was not spared. "Our house was burnt on one side. It looks like you can go inside, but of course, many of our belongings, as well as the rooms and doors, are charred," she added.

By Aghakazim Guliyev