Firefighters battled a severe forest fire in Turkey’s Aegean city of Izmir for the third day in a row on Saturday, AFP reporters said, a day after hundreds of people had to be evacuated from surrounding villages.

Firefighters said they had partially contained the flames that had threatened the port city for the past three days, but the surrounding forests were still burning.

In the northern suburb of Ornekkoy, AFP journalists saw the charred remains of several buildings and vehicles in an industrial area as grey smoke rose into the sky.

“We don’t know what to do. Our workplace is in the middle of the fire. We have lost our livelihood,” says 48-year-old Hanife Erbil, who earns her living by collecting paper and plastic waste.

The pine trees that once crowned the surrounding hills were also burned.

“It was such a beautiful route, the smell of pine trees was everywhere. I’m crying,” said taxi driver Ayhan.

The smell of smoke hung over the city, Turkey’s third largest.

Firefighters from other Turkish cities were sent to provide reinforcements and the army was mobilized.

“Everyone is working hard. I have been on duty for 36 hours now. We can say that the fire is partially under control,” said firefighter Arjin Erol from Izmir.

Evacuations

The fire broke out on Thursday and quickly spread to residential areas due to wind speeds of 50 kilometers per hour.

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said 900 residents from five affected districts in Izmir were evacuated on Friday evening.

As AFP journalists saw, these villages were empty on Saturday for security reasons, except for a handful of volunteers who left food and water for the animals living in the forest.

Wild animals, cats and dogs died in the fire, but no human casualties have been reported so far.

The fire damaged 16 buildings and affected 78 people, 29 of whom were hospitalized, the Turkish Health Ministry said.

“Two planes and eleven helicopters are currently in operation,” said Ibrahim Yumakli of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, after the helicopters and water bombers had previously had to remain on the ground due to strong winds.

The city’s residents have no need to worry, he added.

AFP journalists watched as four helicopters, supported by two planes, dropped water on the flames throughout the day.

About 1,600 hectares (3,900 acres) were affected, the minister said, adding that the difficult terrain made it difficult to extinguish the fire at its source.

Fresh flames

Fires continue to rage in forest areas in five other Turkish cities, including Bolu in the northwest and Aydin in the west.

And late Saturday, new fires broke out again in Izmir, engulfing several districts, including Bayindir and the popular resort of Cesme, local mayor Cemil Tugay said on social media.

Authorities have brought the fire in Cesme on the Greek island of Chios under control, he said.

According to official information, seven people were arrested in Izmir for alleged connection to the fire.

Azerbaijan has sent a firefighting aircraft to help its regional ally, the Turkish presidency said.

Scientists say climate change is making extreme weather events such as heat waves more likely, more intense and longer lasting, increasing the risk of wildfires.

In June, 15 people were killed in a fire in southeastern Turkey’s Mardin.

However, observers say Turkey has made progress since it was hit by the worst fires in its history in 2021.

At the time, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government was criticized for its lack of mobilization due to a lack of planes and helicopters.

© 2024 AFP