Wildfires rage across six Turkish provinces, emergency teams respond PHOTO

Widespread forest fires have erupted in six provinces across Türkiye, prompting an urgent response from firefighting teams.

The General Directorate of Forestry (OGM) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has mobilized aerial and ground units to combat the blazes, Caliber.Az reports per Turkish media.

The fire in İzmir has been successfully brought under control, providing some relief amid the ongoing crisis. However, efforts to extinguish forest fires persist in five other provinces: Tekirdağ, Bursa, Sakarya, Antalya, and Kahramanmaraş.

One of the most severe wildfires erupted in the Osmangazi district of Bursa, located in northwestern Türkiye. Driven by fierce winds, the blaze rapidly advanced from dense forest areas into adjacent residential neighborhoods.

With temperatures soaring to 41 degrees Celsius, villagers were evacuated amid scenes of panic and distress as the fire encroached upon their homes. Rescue teams launched urgent operations to assist farmers trapped alongside their tractors within the inferno.

The flames engulfed multiple gardens, prompting the evacuation of five houses, according to local media reports. Authorities attributed the rapid spread to a combination of strong wind gusts, elevated temperatures, and the combustible nature of pinecones, which acted as firebrands, carrying embers to distant locations. After several hours of intense firefighting, officials announced that the blaze had been "largely" contained.

Meanwhile, a significant wildfire ignited in Antalya’s Alanya district along the Mediterranean coast. Firefighting efforts were mounted both from the air and ground, deploying several helicopters, fire trucks, and numerous personnel. These operations faced challenges from intermittent strong winds, which complicated containment measures. Although the affected area remains sparsely populated, authorities continue to monitor the situation closely.

In Sakarya province, another wildfire broke out in a forested area in the northwest. The cause of the fire remains under investigation as suppression efforts remain ongoing.

Additionally, İzmir’s Aliağa district experienced its third wildfire within three days, with the latest incident reported at 10:15 a.m. on June 27. Response teams intervened swiftly, arriving within ten minutes, and successfully brought the fire under control. Nonetheless, officials have cautioned that dry and windy conditions sustain a heightened risk of reignition.

Wildfires have become a recurrent menace in Turkey during the summer months, particularly across the Aegean and Mediterranean regions, where hot, arid weather creates an environment highly conducive to rapidly spreading fires.

By Vafa Guliyeva