Firefighters are currently engaged in battling a fierce forest fire in Izmir, Turkey’s Aegean city, now in its third day according to AFP reporters. Just a day ago, hundreds of local residents in nearby villages had to be evacuated due to the escalating fire.
The firefighters have managed to partially contain the flames that have been posing a threat to the port city for the past three days, however, fires are still raging in the nearby forests.
In the northern suburb of Ornekkoy, AFP journalists witnessed the aftermath of the fire, with several buildings and vehicles in an industrial zone reduced to ashes and grey smoke rising into the sky.
One resident, 48-year-old Hanife Erbil, expressed distress over the situation, stating, “We don’t know what to do. Our workplace is located in the middle of the fire. We have lost our livelihood.”
Pine trees that once adorned the surrounding hills have also been destroyed by the fire, leaving a devastating impact on the landscape.
The city of Izmir, Turkey’s third most-populated city, was shrouded in smoke, prompting reinforcements from firefighters of other Turkish cities and even mobilisation of the army.
Arjin Erol, a firefighter in Izmir, mentioned, “Everyone is working hard. I’m on my 36th hour of service. We can say the fire is partially under control.”
-Evacuations-
The fire, which started on Thursday, quickly spread to residential areas due to strong winds blowing at 50 kilometers (30 miles) per hour.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that 900 residents from five affected districts were evacuated on Friday night in Izmir.
On Saturday, these villages remained deserted for safety reasons, with only a few volunteers leaving food and water for animals in the forest.
Although wild animals, cats, and dogs perished in the fire, no human casualties have been reported so far.
The fire caused damage to 16 buildings and affected 78 individuals, with 29 of them hospitalized, as per the Turkish health ministry.
Agriculture and Forestry Ministry’s Ibrahim Yumakli mentioned the continued efforts with planes and helicopters to combat the fire amid challenging terrain.
– Fresh flames-
Aside from Izmir, five other fires are blazing in forest areas in different Turkish cities. New fires broke out in Izmir late on Saturday in districts like Bayindir and Cesme, a popular holiday resort.
The authorities managed to control the fire in Cesme, which is located across the Greek island of Chios.
Seven individuals were detained in Izmir for alleged involvement in the fire, while Azerbaijan provided assistance by sending a water bomber plane.
Experts attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires to climate change, making extreme weather events more common.
In June, a fire in Mardin, southeastern Turkey, resulted in the deaths of 15 people.
Turkey has made progress in addressing wildfires since the devastating 2021 fires, where lack of resources and mobilization led to criticism of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government.
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