Wildfires persist to be contained within Türkiye, prompting evacuations among locals
Turkey Battles Persistent Forest Fires
Turkey is currently grappling with a series of forest fires that have been raging since early summer, causing numerous evacuations and at least 14 deaths, most notably near Bursa, the country's fourth-largest city.
Progress and Impact
According to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, about 96% of the fires have been attributed to human activities such as careless disposal of cigarette butts and unattended picnic fires, with some incidents suspected as arson. Over 3,000 fires have ignited since the beginning of summer, fuelled by extreme heat waves, strong winds, and dry conditions typical of the Mediterranean.
In the Safranbolu region and around Bursa, 19 villages and more than 3,500 residents were evacuated as flames advanced into residential areas. One particularly deadly wildfire near Eskisehir claimed the lives of at least 10 forest workers and rescuers in their efforts to control the blaze.
Response and Ongoing Efforts
More than 1,900 firefighters have been deployed to fight the fires, especially around Bursa. Local residents have also joined the efforts, using tractors to transport water tanks and carrying bottles of water to fight the flames.
However, Turkish Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli noted that the response capabilities are sometimes limited, especially under strong wind conditions that ground firefighting planes and delay containment efforts for hours or days.
High priorities include evacuations, firefighting coordination across affected provinces, and public warnings to prevent new ignitions.
Current Situation
Significant progress has been reported in containing fires in Çanakkale's Ezine, Edirne's Enez, Manisa's Şehzadeler, and Hatay's Yayladağı district. A major operation involving 10 planes, nine helicopters, 10 bulldozers, and over 750 personnel is underway. Two suspects were detained in connection with the fire in Manisa's Soma district.
A fire in Yayladağı was caused by sparks from a combine harvester. Cooling operations are underway in all contained fire zones to prevent reignition. Officials reported that efforts are ongoing to fully contain the fire in Ayvacık.
Maritime evacuation operations were carried out, with 84 people rescued and others transported via commercial ferries. A total of 2,090 residents from Guzelyalı, Halileli, and Erenköy were evacuated. Seventy-seven individuals were treated for smoke inhalation, with no cases reported as critical.
The fires in Bolu's Mudurnu, Kahramanmaraş's Göksun, Çanakkale's Ayvacık, and İzmir's Dikili are largely contained. The Kozanlı neighborhood in Manisa was evacuated as a precaution. Several villas were destroyed in the fire.
Efforts to contain fires continue in Çanakkale's central district. Emergency teams remain on high alert due to hot, dry, and windy conditions persisting in several regions.
[1] "Turkey wildfires: At least 14 people killed as blazes rage across country" - BBC News, 12 August 2025.
[2] "Turkey wildfires: More than 1,900 firefighters deployed" - Al Jazeera, 12 August 2025.
[3] "Turkey wildfires: More than 3,000 fires have ignited since the beginning of summer" - Anadolu Agency, 12 August 2025.
- Environmental scientists are analyzing the impact of the wildfires in Turkey, particularly examining the effects on the local ecosystem and air quality, to help determine preventive measures and recovery strategies for the future.
- As the weather continues to be hot and dry, the scientific community is paying close attention to the ongoing forest fires in Turkey, monitoring weather patterns and wind conditions to predict potential fire hazards and aid in firefighting efforts.
