Escaping the Flames: Wildfires Threaten Turkey's Fourth-Largest City

Forest fires are encroaching on Turkey's fourth-largest city, Bursa, forcing the evacuation of over 3,500 people from the surrounding areas. Firefighters have been battling two blazes for more than 24 hours in the major industrial hub in northwestern Turkey. The situation is critical, with high winds and rising temperatures complicating the firefighting efforts.

Intensive Efforts to Contain the Fires

According to Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Ibrahim Yumakli, a total of 3,515 citizens have been evacuated to safe locations. A massive team of 2,300 firefighters and rescue workers is on the ground, working tirelessly to control the fires amidst strong winds.

The response includes over 850 vehicles, six planes, and four helicopters. These resources are crucial as temperatures are expected to soar to nearly 40 degrees Celsius in the coming days, potentially worsening the situation. The minister did not specify the exact forested areas that have been consumed by the fires on the outskirts of the country's fourth-largest city.

Growing Death Toll and Heightened Risks

The fires have tragically claimed lives. A firefighter died of a heart attack while working to extinguish the blazes on Saturday evening. Additionally, three individuals were killed in a tragic collision involving a tanker truck used to fight one of the fires, according to the Bursa Governorship. These incidents follow a devastating event last Wednesday, where ten forest workers and rescue volunteers were killed after being trapped by a severe wildfire 150 kilometers to the east.

Fires Across the Nation

The crisis is not limited to Bursa. In the rural province of Karabük, where forests cover 72% of the land, firefighters have been struggling for five days to contain a fire that has led to the evacuation of more than 1,800 residents. According to Turkish media, the fires in this province spread for dozens of kilometers over the weekend, with the rugged terrain hindering the firefighters' mission.

Given the ongoing heatwave and drought affecting large parts of the country, Turkish authorities have renewed calls for caution, warning that the risk of fires will persist until October. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that over 3,000 fires have been extinguished in Turkey since the beginning of the summer.