Western Turkey experiences another forest fire, resulting in a partial closure of the nearby airport.
Wildfires Rage in Canakkale, Turkey: Evacuations, Closures, and Ongoing Firefighting Efforts
Wildfires in Canakkale, Turkey, have been burning for several days, with efforts ongoing to control them. The main causes are attributed to dry agricultural fields and strong winds spreading the fire into nearby forests.
Evacuation Efforts
Hundreds of residents from villages including Sarıcaeli, a university campus (Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University), and an elderly care home have been evacuated as a safety precaution due to the advancing fires.
Road and Transportation Closures
The Dardanelles Strait (Çanakkale Strait), a critical maritime route connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara, was temporarily closed in both directions due to heavy smoke and reduced visibility. Canakkale Airport was also temporarily shut down amid the fires.
Firefighting Resources
Authorities have deployed significant resources including seven to eight firefighting planes, six helicopters, dozens of fire trucks, and heavy machinery. Water-bombing aircraft have been actively collecting water from the sea in the area to combat the fires.
Impact on the Dardanelles Strait and Air Traffic
The closure of the strait has disrupted maritime traffic, delaying about 100 ships, to ensure safety from smoke and to facilitate firefighting operations. The airport shutdown further affected regional air traffic temporarily.
Current Containment
While wildfires in the Ezine and Ayvacik districts of Canakkale and some other provinces have been largely brought under control, fires in the city center near the southern Dardanelles Strait remain active. Officials note no immediate danger to residential zones in the city center, despite the fire's proximity.
Weather Conditions and Wildfire Spread
The weather conditions (high temperatures, drought, low humidity, and wind) increase the risk of wildfires. Winds from the north and northeast of up to 80 km/h are expected until Tuesday, making the situation more difficult.
Restart of the Wildfire
The wildfire that was brought under control in Canakkale last Friday has restarted, adding to the challenges faced by emergency services. The cause of the wildfire is still unknown.
Efforts to Control the Fires
The wildfire is currently being battled by emergency services. The Canakkale airport is currently being used by emergency services and for official state purposes, but remains closed to civilian air traffic until evening.
The wildfires cause significant disruption through evacuations, closures, and firefighting challenges particularly impacting Canakkale’s key maritime passage and airport operations. Experts attribute the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, including wildfires, to climate change.
Environmental scientists are focused on the impact of the wildfires in Canakkale, Turkey, as the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, such as wildfires, is linked to climate change.Given the current weather conditions of high temperatures, drought, low humidity, and strong winds, the ongoing wildfire poses a significant threat to the environment and local ecosystems in the region, particularly the Dardanelles Strait.*
