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| More than 3,500 people have been evacuated from areas surrounding Bursa. |
Turkey has evacuated more than 3,500 residents over the weekend as wildfires continue to rage near the northwestern industrial city of Bursa—Turkey’s fourth-largest city—posing an escalating threat amid extreme heat and high winds.
Mass Evacuations and Ongoing Firefighting Efforts
Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry stated on
Sunday that a total of 3,515 people had been evacuated to safer areas.
Over 2,300 firefighters and emergency personnel have been deployed to
combat two major blazes burning for more than 24 hours in the region.
The firefighting effort includes more than 850 vehicles,
six airplanes, and four helicopters. Despite these efforts, the fires
continue to advance, fueled by strong winds and rising temperatures that
are forecasted to hit 40°C (104°F) in the coming days.
Casualties and Accidents Linked to the Fires
One firefighter died of a heart attack on Saturday night
while working to contain the flames. On Sunday, three others were killed in
a tanker truck accident used in firefighting operations, according to
officials from Bursa province.
Earlier in the week on Wednesday, ten forest workers and
rescue volunteers lost their lives after being trapped by an intense
wildfire approximately 150 kilometers east of the current fire zones.
Karabük Wildfires Enter Day Five
In Karabük province, located in the forest-dense
northern region of the country—where woodlands cover 72% of the land—firefighters
have been battling another persistent wildfire for five consecutive days. Over 1,800
residents have been evacuated from the area.
According to multiple Turkish media outlets, the wildfires
have spread across tens of kilometers, and the rugged terrain
continues to challenge emergency response efforts.
Persistent Heat and Heightened Risk Through October
As heatwaves and drought conditions stretch across much of
Turkey, the government issued renewed warnings on Sunday, urging citizens to
exercise caution and warning that fire risks will likely remain high until
October.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that more than
3,000 wildfires have been extinguished across the country since the start
of the summer.
