Turkish media reported Thursday that wildfires have reached populated areas near several tourist sites in southern Turkey, resulting in the deaths of four people and forcing authorities to evacuate dozens of villages. Separate fires broke out in forests located in Manavgat, Alanya, Adana, Mersin, Bodrum, and Marmaris, near Mediterranean tourist sites in southern Turkey, but rapidly spread to inhabited areas due to strong winds. One of the deceased was a 25-year-old man heading to help in a fire-affected area in Marmaris, according to NTV news channel. The fires destroyed dozens of houses, fields, and stables in many villages. Turkish Agriculture Minister Bekir Pakdemirli stated that "according to initial information, 150 heads of cattle and 1,000 sheep perished, 600 hectares of agricultural land were damaged, and 50 hectares of agricultural tents were affected."
The first fire in the region broke out Wednesday in a forest in Manavgat, Antalya Province, before spreading to neighboring villages. As the fire expanded, authorities evacuated dozens of villages, as well as a hotel in the tourist city of Bodrum. Turkish media broadcast scenes of terrified people running for their lives on streets illuminated by flames. Thick clouds of smoke covered the sky above a seaside resort in Manavgat. Medical teams transported 183 individuals to local hospitals, three of whom sustained burns, while the rest suffered from respiratory issues due to inhaling smoke from the fires. On Thursday, emergency teams rescued ten people stranded on a boat sailing in a lake surrounded by flames.
More than 4,000 firefighting personnel, assisted by helicopters and firefighting planes, are trying to control the fires. The Russian embassy tweeted Thursday that three Russian firefighting planes are participating in efforts to extinguish the flames in southern Turkey. The Turkish Foreign Ministry announced that Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias informed his Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on Thursday evening that Greece, which has had strained relations with its neighbor, "is ready to offer assistance if needed." Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov expressed solidarity with Turkey, confirming in a tweet that his country is prepared to provide "support" to its ally.
The spread of the fires has been exacerbated by rising temperatures nearing 40 degrees Celsius and strong winds in the area, reaching speeds of 50 km/h. Due to the simultaneous outbreak of fires in different locations, Turkish authorities suspect that these fires may be arson. The Anadolu Agency reported Antalya's mayor, Muhittin Böcek, saying Wednesday that "the outbreak of the Manavgat fire from four different sites indicates that it is a deliberate fire, but we do not have clear information regarding this at the moment." Anadolu also reported that the prosecutor in Marmaris has opened an investigation to determine the causes of these fires. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated Wednesday evening, "All necessary support will be provided to our citizens who have suffered from the fire," pledging to conduct a thorough investigation to identify the causes of the disaster.
