Türkiye brings all wildfires under control after 10-day battle

All wildfires that erupted across Türkiye over the past 10 days have been successfully brought under control, the country’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on July 6.

Speaking during a visit to the western province of Izmir, Yerlikaya confirmed that “all wildfires that broke out in the last 10 days are now under control.”

İzmir was among the hardest-hit regions, with the minister noting that 228 homes sustained serious damage, according to broadcaster TRT Haber.

Data from the Communications Directorate under the Turkish Presidency shows that 761 forest fires were recorded nationwide during the 10-day period—representing nearly 25% of all wildfires registered since the beginning of the year. The largest blazes were reported in the provinces of Izmir and Manisa in western Türkiye, as well as in Hatay in the southeast.

The massive firefighting effort involved 27 aircraft, 105 helicopters, 6,000 ground vehicles, and 25,000 personnel, deployed to contain and extinguish the flames.

The wildfires, which began on June 26, were fueled by a combination of extreme heat, low humidity, and strong winds, creating optimal conditions for rapid fire spread.

Izmir, a major tourist hub on Türkiye’s Aegean coast, was the epicentre of the wildfire crisis. Fires in districts such as Seferihisar, Menderes, Ödemiş, Çeşme, and Gaziemir led to the evacuation of over 42,000 residents from 41 settlements.

The fires forced the temporary closure of Izmir’s Adnan Menderes Airport on June 29, halting all flights and stranding thousands of tourists.

By Khagan Isayev