Turkey is facing an intense wave of wildfires, which have swept through the provinces of Izmir, Denizli, Aydın, and Manisa over the past 24 hours. The flames have been especially aggressive along the borders of Menderes and Seferihisar in the coastal city of Izmir, reaching residential zones and forcing authorities to evacuate at least 10 neighborhoods, most of them in Seferihisar.
The fires have been fueled by strong winds reaching speeds of up to 120 km/h, rapidly spreading the flames.
In one dramatic incident in the Omur area of Seferihisar, an elderly man in a wheelchair was rescued just as his house began to burn. He was taken to medical services by IHH Search and Rescue teams, and his condition is reported to be stable.
According to Environment and Urbanization Minister Murat Kurum, 23 homes and 47 housing units have been destroyed in Izmir, while in other provinces like Bilecik, 41 houses and 25 barns have suffered serious damage.
The Izmir Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into possible arson. One person has been arrested for using gasoline to ignite fires, and 17 others have been detained in connection with fires that broke out between June 26–28.
As a result of the wildfires, Adnan Menderes Airport in Izmir has temporarily suspended all incoming and outgoing flights. Connections to cities such as Istanbul, London, Cologne, Copenhagen, and Sofia have been cancelled.
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı stated that out of 77 reported fires in a single day, 9 are large-scale blazes, with 3—Manisa Akhisar, Izmir Kuyucuk, and Doğanbey—still active and serious.
More than 1,113 personnel, 11 aircraft, 27 helicopters, and 281 firefighting vehicles have been deployed to combat the fires.
Izmir Governor Süleyman Elban mentioned that some aircraft can drop up to 12 tons of water, but aerial operations are limited due to fog and high winds.
Ash and smoke from the massive fires have drifted across the Aegean Sea, reaching the Greek island of Patmos, darkening the skies and causing unbearable odors, as reported by tourists in the area.
Minister Yumaklı stressed:
“This is not an ordinary forest fire—we are facing a full-scale battle.”
He called on the public to exercise maximum caution, warning that even minor negligence could lead to catastrophic consequences.
So far, no human fatalities have been reported, but three people have been hospitalized with respiratory issues due to smoke inhalation.
