Istanbul: Two large wildfires in northwestern and northern Turkey have forced mass evacuations as strong winds pushed flames towards residential areas, trapping vehicles on burning roads, local authorities said.
In Bursa province, a fast-spreading fire between the Kestel and Gursu districts advanced towards nearby villages, prompting evacuations. Videos shared online showed residents fleeing on foot as flames engulfed a main road, temporarily stranding vehicles, including civilian aid cars.
Another blaze, which started on Thursday in Karabuk province, remains out of control, leading to the precautionary evacuation of nearly 20 villages. The Ankara-Karabuk highway was closed as residents attempted to move livestock away from danger zones, Xinhua news agency reported.
Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said on Saturday that 76 fires were still active across the country, 28 in forested areas and 48 in rural regions, amid extreme heat and “very high risk” conditions. He added that firefighting teams would continue operations through the night.
Temperatures reached 38 degrees Celsius in Bursa and 37 degrees Celsius in Karabuk on Saturday, with even higher temperatures forecast in the coming days.
The wildfires follow a deadly incident on 23 July in Eskisehir province, where 10 firefighters, five forest workers and five volunteers, died while battling a blaze. Fourteen others were injured and remain in hospital, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed condolences and pledged compensation for the victims’ families.
Firefighting efforts are also under way in the western and central provinces of Sakarya, Antalya, Eskisehir, Bilecik and Denizli, Anadolu Agency reported.
Yumakli said that since the start of the year, Turkey has recorded more than 4,000 fires, including 1,728 in forested areas, warning that soaring temperatures are increasing the threat.