Wildfires in Turkey continued to challenge firefighters on Thursday as extreme summer heat fuelled blazes across several provinces, forcing evacuations and temporary road closures.
Active fires were reported in parts of Antalya and throughout Muğla province, home to some of Turkey’s most popular tourist destinations, after fires broke out on Wednesday.
Agriculture and Forestry Minister İbrahim Yumaklı said fires in Yalova’s Armutlu, Kütahya’s Domaniç and Altıntaş, as well as Çanakkale, had been brought under control. However, Antalya, Muğla and Balıkesir remained under close monitoring.
Evacuations carried out in affected areas
The most serious active fire was reported in Seydikemer, a district between Fethiye and Marmaris, where a blaze that began on farmland spread into woodland.
Authorities evacuated 45 patients from a local state hospital and transferred them to nearby facilities.
Across six neighbourhoods, 408 homes were evacuated, with 703 people and around 100 animals moved to safety. Fifty-five buildings were damaged, with some completely destroyed.
More than 25 aircraft, 410 ground vehicles and over 1,100 personnel were deployed to fight the fire.
Tourist areas affected by fire response
In Antalya’s Kumluca district, south of the city on the route towards Kaş and the Lycian coast, a wildfire left 10 homes unusable. Fire crews brought the main blaze under control but continued cooling operations.
The popular coastal destination of Kaş also reported an active fire in surrounding woodland, while access to the ancient ruins of Olympos in Antalya province was closed.
The Fethiye-Antalya highway was temporarily closed due to smoke from the Seydikemer fire before reopening under controlled conditions.
Heat and dry conditions fuel blazes
Five separate fires broke out in Balıkesir province on Wednesday.
The most significant blaze affected Altınoluk, a seaside town known for olive groves near the ancient site of Antandros. The fire spread rapidly due to strong winds and threatened residential areas, leading to the evacuation of 210 homes.
Turkey’s Aegean and Mediterranean coasts are particularly vulnerable to wildfires during the summer months, with drought, temperatures exceeding 40C, low humidity and seasonal winds increasing the risk of rapid fire spread.
Also read: Three Greek firefighters die as wildfires grip southern Europe
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