Wildfires have been raging in Turkey‘s western province of Izmir for the second day, forcing the evacuation of over 50,000 residents from 41 settlements. The blaze, fueled by strong winds, has spread swiftly across the region, prompting a large-scale firefighting operation. Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli reported that winds reached 40-50kmph in Kuyucak and Doganbey areas of Izmir, complicating efforts to contain the fire.
According to Yumakli, more than 1,000 firefighters, supported by helicopters, fire-extinguishing aircraft, and other vehicles, are battling the flames. “A total of over 50,000 citizens from 41 settlements have been temporarily relocated to safe areas,” the AFAD disaster agency said, with most evacuations taking place near the western resort of Izmir. Operations at Izmir Adnan Menderes airport were suspended due to the fire.
The first fire broke out on Sunday between the districts of Seferihisar and Menderes in Izmir, spreading rapidly due to winds of up to 117kmph. Residents in the village of Urkmez were forced to cut trees to create firebreaks and protect their homes. A separate blaze ignited at a landfill in Gaziemir, spreading to nearby woodland and threatening the Otokent industrial zone, home to several car dealerships.
Turkey’s coastal regions have been ravaged by wildfires in recent years, with summers becoming hotter and drier, a trend scientists attribute to climate change. Last year, the same area in Izmir was hit by a massive wildfire. The current blaze has already caused significant damage, with houses and forests burned in the Doganbey area of Seferihisar district.
The wildfires are not limited to Turkey. Across Southern Europe, firefighters are battling blazes as the region faces an intense heatwave. In France, wildfires broke out in the Corbieres area of Aude, forcing the evacuation of a campsite and abbey. Greek firefighters also battled a forest blaze on the coast south of Athens last week, forcing some evacuations. Several areas in southern Portugal, including Lisbon, were under a red warning until Monday night.