Turkish authorities have evacuated over 50,000 people, primarily from the western province of Izmir, as firefighters continue to battle a series of intense wildfires, the AFAD disaster agency reported on Monday.
The most severe blaze ignited on Sunday in Seferihisar, a forested area approximately 50 kilometres (30 miles) southwest of the resort city of Izmir.
Officials stated that the fire spread rapidly, fueled by winds reaching up to 120 kilometres (75 miles) per hour.
AFAD confirmed that “a total of over 50,000 citizens from 41 settlements have been temporarily relocated to safe areas,” adding that 79 people experienced minor smoke-related issues. Of those evacuated, 42,300 were from Seferihisar, where television footage showed massive flames and dense black smoke engulfing forested regions.
Overnight, around 20 evacuated homes in the area were destroyed by the fire.
Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli noted that strong winds were persisting, complicating firefighting efforts. More than 1,000 personnel, supported by four planes, 14 helicopters, and 106 fire trucks, have been deployed to combat the blaze in Seferihisar.
An additional 3,000 residents were evacuated from Manisa, north of Izmir, and 1,500 from the southern Hatay region, where a separate fire is being fought by four helicopters, 211 fire engines, and 540 firefighters. Around 850 people were also displaced by two other wildfires in northwestern Turkey.
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced on X that one person had been arrested for allegedly starting a wildfire in the Izmir area with gasoline, reportedly by setting fire to their residence.
Since Friday, 263 fires have erupted across Turkey, with 259 now under control and efforts ongoing to extinguish the remaining four.
Izmir Airport, which briefly suspended flights on Sunday, has resumed operations. According to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), wildfires have ravaged nearly 19,000 hectares of land across Turkey this year.
Experts warn that human-driven climate change is contributing to more frequent and intense wildfires and other natural disasters, urging Turkey to implement measures to address this growing problem.
