Firefighters in Turkey continued a determined battle on Monday against fast-spreading wildfires that have raged for two consecutive days in the western province of Izmir.
Driven by powerful winds and dry summer conditions, the fires have forced the evacuation of several communities and drawn in extensive firefighting resources.
The wildfires broke out in the Kuyucak and Doganbey areas and were intensified overnight by gusts reaching up to 50 kilometres per hour (30 mph), according to Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumaklı. As a result, four villages and two neighbourhoods have been evacuated as a safety precaution.
Yumaklı said during a press briefing in Izmir that over a thousand personnel, supported by helicopters, firefighting aircraft, and ground vehicles, are engaged in the operation to contain the fires.
Footage aired by local media showed teams deploying tractors with water tanks while helicopters dumped water over smoke-covered, charred hillsides. The affected areas bear the familiar scars of a pattern that has become increasingly common in recent years.
Turkey’s coastal regions, particularly in the west and south, have faced devastating wildfires almost every summer. Experts attribute the rising frequency and severity of these fires to the impacts of climate change, which has led to hotter, drier conditions across the Mediterranean.
As firefighting efforts continue, the incident once again underscores the urgent need for sustainable environmental policies and proactive climate adaptation strategies in vulnerable regions like Izmir.
Melissa Enoch
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