Turkiye has evacuated more than 50,000 people from 41 areas around Izmir. Fires burned for the second day as strong winds pushed flames across villages and forests. Forest Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said winds hit 40-50kmph overnight in Kuyucak and Doganbey.
Most of those evacuated were from fire zones near the popular western resort of Izmir, according to AFAD. The media said operations at Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport were suspended due to a fire.
Helicopters, planes, and over 1,000 people battled the flames. However, earlier, strong winds grounded helicopters. That left two water-bombing aircraft and ground crews to fight alone. The video showed teams using tractors and helicopters while thick smoke covered hills.
The first wildfire started on Sunday between Seferihisar and Menderes. It spread quickly with winds of up to 117kmph, Governor Suleyman Elban said. In Urkmez village, residents had to cut trees to build firebreaks to protect their homes.
Another fire began at a landfill in Gaziemir, 13km from Izmir city. That fire spread to nearby woodland and the Otokent industrial zone. Otokent hosts many car dealerships.
Last year, a wildfire also hit the same area. Summers are hotter and drier, and scientists link this pattern of fires to climate change. Turkiyeโs coastal regions have seen repeated fires in recent years.
Across Southern Europe, fire crews are also active. In Franceโs Aude region, 40 ยฐC temperatures forced the evacuation of a campsite and an abbey. In Greece, fires near Athens led to some evacuations last week. Portugalโs southern regions, including Lisbon, were under red heat warnings on Monday.
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