Turkey grapples with forest blazes - Residential district in Izmir experiences flames - Approximately 4000 individuals evacuated nationwide
In the western Turkish city of Izmir, firefighters are still battling a raging forest fire on the city's outskirts. A commotion erupted in the suburban district of Karsiyaka on a Friday night as the flames reached a ten-story residential building complex and an industrial area, pushed into the city by strong winds from the nearby forest.
From Saturday morning, the fire no longer poses a danger to the central residential areas of the coastal city, announced Turkish Minister of Agriculture Ibrahim Yumakli. Additional forces have been mobilized, and with aerial assistance, they've managed to control the blaze.
Since Thursday evening, approximately 3,000 personnel have been combating the fire on Mount Yamanlar, located on the outskirts of the coastal city. The area reportedly filled with thick smoke at times, according to a dpa correspondent.
As per the minister, 17 homes were burned down overnight in the Yamanlar neighborhood, and 105 residential and 44 commercial buildings were evacuated. The fire has scorched 1,600 hectares of land in Izmir alone. The origin of the fire remains a mystery.
Firefighting operations at various locations
Izmir is not the sole city facing the threat of flames. Over the past week, a total of 131 fires have broken out on agricultural or forested lands in cities including Aydin, Bolu, Mugla, and Manisa, according to the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority. Over 4,000 individuals have been forced to evacuate due to the fires in at least four cities and provinces.
Two individuals in Izmir and four in the city of Bolu have been taken into custody on suspicion of being involved in some of the fires. No injuries have been reported as of yet.
Izmir and its surrounding tourist spots are renowned destinations. Turkey has been grappling with a heatwave and forest fires nationwide since the beginning of summer. Neighboring Greece has also been impacted by a large forest fire north of Athens.
Firefighters continued their efforts to contain the devastating forest fire in Izmir, even as they acknowledged the significant role played by their aerial assistance in controlling the blaze. Despite the progress made, the memory of the firefighting operations on Mount Yamanlar, where thousands of personnel had battled the flames since Thursday evening, was still fresh in everyone's mind.
