A massive forest fire in Turkey’s Aegean city of Izmir has continued to rage for three consecutive days, forcing hundreds of residents in nearby villages to evacuate. Firefighters have been battling the blaze, which has already charred several buildings, vehicles, and vast areas of pine forests, with the flames being partially contained as of Saturday.
The fire, which began on Thursday, quickly spread to residential areas in the city’s northern suburb of Ornekkoy, driven by strong winds blowing at speeds of 50 kilometers (30 miles) per hour. In the industrial zone of Ornekkoy, the charred remains of buildings and vehicles were seen by AFP journalists, while grey smoke billowed into the sky. Local residents, like 48-year-old Hanife Erbil, have expressed despair over the loss of their livelihoods due to the destruction caused by the fire. “We don’t know what to do. Our workplace is located in the middle of the fire. We have lost our livelihood,” Erbil said, who makes a living by collecting paper and plastic waste.
The once-beautiful pine tree-covered hills surrounding the area have also been devastated. “It was such a beautiful route, it smelled of pine trees everywhere. It makes me want to cry,” said Ayhan, a local taxi driver, as he looked at the burned landscape.
The smell of smoke has engulfed Izmir, Turkey’s third most-populated city, as firefighters from other Turkish cities were deployed as reinforcements, and the army was mobilized to assist in the firefighting efforts. Izmir firefighter Arjin Erol, who has been on duty for 36 hours, stated, “Everyone is working hard. We can say the fire is partially under control.”
On Friday night, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that 900 residents in five affected districts were evacuated as a precaution. By Saturday, the evacuated villages remained empty, except for a few volunteers who stayed behind to provide food and water for animals still in the forest. Although wild animals, cats, and dogs perished in the fire, no human casualties have been reported.
The Turkish Health Ministry reported that 16 buildings were damaged and 78 people were affected by the fire, with 29 requiring hospitalization. The Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said that two planes and eleven helicopters were actively involved in firefighting efforts, despite earlier disruptions caused by strong winds that had grounded the helicopters and water bombers.
Around 1,600 hectares (3,900 acres) of land have been affected by the fire, with difficult terrain making it challenging to extinguish the fire at its source. Additional fires have also erupted in other parts of Turkey, including the cities of Bolu and Aydin, with new flames breaking out in Izmir on Saturday evening, engulfing districts such as Bayindir and the popular holiday resort of Cesme. However, the fire in Cesme, which is located near the Greek island of Chios, has been brought under control.
Seven individuals have been detained in Izmir over alleged links to the fire, as authorities continue to investigate the cause of the blaze. To support its regional ally, Azerbaijan has sent a water bomber plane to assist in the firefighting efforts.
Scientists have warned that climate change is exacerbating extreme weather events, including heatwaves, making them more frequent, longer-lasting, and intense, thereby increasing the risk of wildfires. In June, a fire in southeastern Turkey’s Mardin region claimed the lives of 15 people. Despite the current crisis, observers have noted that Turkey has made significant progress in managing wildfires since experiencing the worst fires in its history in 2021.
As firefighters continue to battle the flames, the people of Izmir and the surrounding regions remain on high alert, hoping for the fire to be fully contained and for life to return to normal.
Sources By Agencies
