Wildfires Ravage Turkey’s Izmir for Second Consecutive Day
Turkiye has initiated the evacuation of four villages and two neighborhoods in the western province of Izmir as firefighters continue to combat wildfires for a second consecutive day, local authorities have reported.
Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli reported on Monday that the fire in Izmir’s Kuyucak and Doganbey regions was exacerbated overnight by winds reaching speeds of 40-50 km/h (25-30 mph).
In a statement delivered in Izmir, Yumakli reported that over 1,000 personnel, along with helicopters, fire-extinguishing aircraft, and various vehicles, were actively engaged in efforts to combat the fires.
Operations at Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport have been halted as a result of a fire, according to reports from Turkish media outlets.
Media footage captured scenes of teams deploying tractors equipped with water trailers, and helicopters ferrying water, as plumes of smoke rose over hills dotted with scorched trees.
Earlier, intense winds grounded helicopters, leaving only two water-bombing aircraft and a substantial ground crew to combat the roaring flames.
A fire ignited on Sunday between the districts of Seferihisar and Menderes in Izmir and rapidly expanded, driven by powerful winds reaching up to 117 km/h (75 mph), as reported by Governor Suleyman Elban.
Authorities have ordered the evacuation of five neighborhoods in Seferihisar as a rapidly advancing fire threatens residential zones, according to the governor’s statement.
According to a witness who spoke with AFP via telephone, inhabitants of the village of Urkmez had to resort to cutting down trees in order to establish firebreaks and shield their residences from advancing flames.
A distinct fire erupted at a landfill site in Gaziemir, approximately 13 kilometers (8 miles) from the heart of Izmir. The flames advanced into the adjacent woodland areas, posing a risk to the Otokent industrial zone, which houses numerous car dealerships.
