Turkey continues to battle wildfires that are spreading across various regions of the country.
According to the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), more than 130 wildfires have occurred in the country over the past week. As of August 18th, 69 fires had been contained. However, five active fires remained in the provinces of Izmir, Aydın, Manisa, Karabük, and Bolu.
Turkey's third-largest city, Izmir, on the Aegean Sea, and the surrounding provinces have been severely affected.
The fire near Izmir broke out on Thursday, August 15th. Due to winds of 30 miles per hour, the fire quickly spread to residential areas.
In Karşıyaka, one of the largest and most densely populated districts of the city, the fire was particularly devastating. It raged for 24 hours, spreading from forests and reaching a ten-story residential building.
The fire damaged homes and dozens of shops in Karşıyaka's industrial zone. The flames also ravaged other areas of the metropolis, including Bayraklı and Çiğli, affecting both residential and industrial sites.
On Friday evening, 900 residents were evacuated from the affected areas. A total of more than 4,000 people were relocated to safer locations in Izmir.
Helicopters and water cannons were deployed to fight the fire. However, their efforts were temporarily halted due to strong winds. The challenging terrain further complicated the firefighters' work.
On Saturday, the blaze that had threatened the port city for the past three days was partially brought under control. But fires continued to burn in nearby forests.
A thick smell of smoke hangs over Izmir. Charred buildings are visible, and hills that were once covered in towering pine trees have turned into ash.
The fire has affected 78 people, 29 of whom have been hospitalized. Seventeen homes have burned down, and approximately 3,900 acres of land have been damaged by the flames. A large number of wild animals, as well as domestic cats and dogs, have perished.
On August 16th, firefighters extinguished a fire in Çanakkale province that threatened the memorials and graves from World War I at the site of the Gallipoli campaign. Photos of this location in northwestern Turkey showed tombstones blackened by soot in a scorched garden overlooking the Aegean Sea.
Another major forest fire raged for several days in the Göynük area of Bolu. The firefighting efforts were hampered by rough terrain and strong winds. A total of 1,357 people, including volunteers and teams from neighboring provinces, were mobilized to combat the blaze.
In the Gündoğan area of Bodrum, Muğla province, a fire that had consumed about 5 acres of forest was successfully contained after significant efforts. Local residents noticed the smoke and reported the fire, leading to a quick response from teams, and with the help of volunteers and civil society organizations, severe destruction was prevented.
In recent years, with hotter summers, increased drought, and winds due to climate change, fires around the world have become more destructive. Despite all efforts to improve the situation, no visible results have been achieved, and the problem remains unsolved, with only the effects being slightly mitigated.
It is now crucial to bring together global scientists to find an effective solution to stop climate disasters and preserve life on the planet. More information can be found at the forum “Global Crisis. The Responsibility.”