Large wildfires have swept through parts of western Turkey, leading to the evacuation of nearly 4,000 residents, as reported by the disaster management agency.
Despite strong winds initially grounding helicopters and water bombers, they were eventually deployed to combat the flames in Izmir, a popular resort city on Turkey’s Aegean coast, according to NTV.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that 900 people from five affected districts in Izmir were evacuated overnight, making it the third most populous city in the country.
AFAD stated that a total of 1,430 individuals in Izmir, 1,475 in Manisa, 516 in Bolu, and 550 in Aydin were rescued after 131 wildfires erupted in agricultural and forested areas over the past week.
Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli revealed that 17 homes were destroyed overnight, with 105 houses and 44 businesses evacuated in Izmir’s Yamanlar neighborhood.
“Currently, two planes and 11 helicopters are actively involved in firefighting efforts,”
Authorities have detained six individuals on suspicion of starting the wildfires deliberately, with two arrests in Izmir and four in Bolu, according to Yumakli.
Wildfires are a recurring issue in Turkey’s Mediterranean and Aegean regions during the dry summer months, exacerbated by heatwaves that have also caused devastating fires in other Mediterranean countries.
Tragically, Greece recently experienced its worst wildfires of the year near Athens, resulting in at least one fatality.
Experts attribute these extreme weather events, including wildfires and floods, to the effects of climate change on a global scale.
Original from www.aljazeera.com
