Fire ravages automobiles and residences in Turkey's Canakkale, causing extensive damage.
In the heart of Turkey, the city of Canakkale is currently battling a series of wildfires that have been raging since early August. The fires have been particularly severe in the northwest province, causing significant damage to residential areas, villages, university campuses, and care homes [1][2][3][4].
The wildfires have had a profound impact on the region. They have temporarily closed Canakkale airport and the Dardanelles Strait, a crucial maritime corridor connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. Firefighting efforts have been intense, involving multiple planes, helicopters, and ground crews [1][2][3][4].
Despite these efforts, recent rainfall has not been reported as significantly affecting the wildfire situation in Canakkale. Reports emphasize conditions driven by strong winds and dry weather, with no reference to rain to mitigate the fires [5]. As of late August, the fires continue to persist, particularly near the city center on the Dardanelles' southern part [1][2][3][4].
Elsewhere in Turkey, the situation has not been much better. Rainfall in July decreased by 71 percent compared to the same period last year, marking a severe decline across the country [6]. The forest fires in Bolu Mudurnu, Canakkale Ayvacik, and Izmir Dikili have been brought under control as of August 12, but the fight against ongoing fires continues without interruption [7].
Interestingly, some regions in Turkey have experienced above-average rainfall. Areas surrounding Denizli, Burdur, Ankara, Samsun, Ordu, Gumushane, Erzincan, Tunceli, Bingol, Adiyaman, and Kars have seen rainfall increase by over 40 percent [8]. However, these increases have not been enough to alleviate the wildfire crisis in Canakkale or other affected areas.
In contrast, the Marmara Region, Aegean Region (except for Usak, Afyonkarahisar, and Denizli surroundings), Western Black Sea, east of Central Anatolia, and Mediterranean regions have seen rainfall decreases of over 80 percent [9]. The provinces of Yalova and Rize have experienced the most extreme rainfall changes, with Yalova recording no rainfall at all in July, and Rize recording the highest provincial rainfall level with 89 kilograms per square meter [10][11].
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Ibrahim Yumakli has announced the latest situation regarding forest fires in his social media post [12]. The nationwide July rainfall average was below both the long-term average and last year's July rainfall [13]. Despite these challenging conditions, efforts to contain the wildfires continue.
References:
[1] Anadolu Agency [2] Reuters [3] Al Jazeera [4] BBC News [5] Daily Sabah [6] Daily Sabah [7] Anadolu Agency [8] Daily Sabah [9] Daily Sabah [10] Daily Sabah [11] Daily Sabah [12] Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Ibrahim Yumakli's Twitter Post [13] Daily Sabah
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