Istanbul/Ankara, July 28 – Turkey is battling dozens of wildfires as strong winds and a record-breaking heatwave continue to fuel blazes across the country, forcing thousands to evacuate.
According to the Presidential Communications Directorate, 84 fires erupted across Turkey on July 26. Most have been brought under control, but firefighting and cooling operations continue in several regions.
The northwestern province of Bursa remains the worst affected. Two separate fires that broke out on Saturday flared up again on Monday despite earlier containment efforts. Flames have already destroyed nearly 3,000 hectares of forest, forcing the evacuation of 3,515 residents. Bursa Mayor Mustafa Bozbey described the situation as “one of the worst disasters in recent years,” adding, “Our lungs are burning — not just our forests, but our hearts as well.”
Tragically, a firefighter died of a heart attack while battling the blaze, while three more people were killed when a water tanker overturned en route to the fire zone. Authorities are also investigating suspected arson after a man was detained with a gasoline canister in his car near one of the fire sites.
In Karabuk province, a wildfire has been raging for six days in rugged terrain, consuming more than 2,000 hectares of land. Another blaze in southeastern Kahramanmaras has already burned around 500 hectares.
Fire safety expert Levent Yasa warned that even small acts of negligence, like throwing a cigarette butt, can trigger catastrophic fires under the current hot and dry conditions.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan praised the dedication of firefighters, saying, “Turkey is waging a great struggle against forest fires in the air and on land.”
Turkey is currently enduring a severe heatwave, with temperatures 6–12°C above normal and exceeding 50°C in Sirnak province.
