Wildfires rage in Antalya amid extreme heat
Smoke from multiple wildfires has shrouded Antalya as crews and residents race to contain fast-moving blazes fueled by record summer heat. Helicopters, water-dropping planes, municipal fire trucks and police water cannons work alongside ground teams wielding hoses and buckets to protect homes and clear vegetation. Excavators carve firebreaks near expanding flames that have forced evacuations in urban districts including Manavgat, Aksu and Gazipaşa.
Authorities have declared İzmir and Bilecik disaster zones amid outbreaks along the Mediterranean coast, mobilizing about 25,000 personnel supported by 27 aircraft, 105 helicopters and some 6,000 ground vehicles. Evacuation orders have covered more than 120 neighborhoods, displacing thousands. Over 300 homes have been destroyed or heavily damaged, and 85 temporary housing units have been set up for affected families.
The blazes have claimed at least 13 lives, most of them rescue volunteers and forestry workers who died during a sudden escalation in the Eskişehir region. Funeral services have been held in Ankara and other cities to honor those lost. Interior Ministry figures highlight an intensification of wildfires since late June, driven by soaring temperatures—reaching highs of 46 °C in Antalya—combined with dry air and strong winds.
Officials stress that, apart from the flaring fires in Aksu and Gazipaşa, most outbreaks are now under control. Nonetheless, the broader European and Mediterranean wildfire crisis continues to threaten communities, agriculture and natural habitats. National coordination of air and ground assets, bolstered by local participation, remains crucial to preventing further spread and reducing risk to lives and property. Climate experts warn that shifting weather patterns and persistent heatwaves may prolong the season of elevated fire danger.
