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Fires Close In on Bursa, Prompting Mass Evacuations
For weeks, wildfires have gripped Turkey, and early Sunday, flames neared the city of Bursa—Turkey’s fourth-largest—forcing over 1,700 people to flee. A firefighter lost his life during operations. The fires surged overnight in the forested mountains surrounding the city, casting a reddish hue over the eastern suburbs. As the crisis deepened, authorities declared the western provinces of Izmir and Bilecik disaster zones.
Emergency Response Amid Expanding Devastation
According to Bursa’s governor’s office, 1,765 villagers were safely evacuated from the northeast region, while more than 1,900 firefighters fought the spreading flames. The highway connecting Bursa to Ankara was shut down as the forest burned. Mayor Mustafa Bozbey confirmed the firefighter’s death by heart attack and reported that 3,000 hectares (over 7,400 acres) had burned. An opposition lawmaker described the destruction as “an apocalypse.”
National Strain and Climatic Extremes
Winds eased slightly by morning, helping firefighters gain some control, though visuals showed scorched land where forests and farms once thrived. Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli reported 84 active fires across Turkey on Saturday, with the northwest region most affected. Karabuk, for instance, had been battling wildfires since Tuesday. The combination of unusually high temperatures, dryness, and strong winds continued to fuel the crisis.
Record Heat and Mounting Casualties
Turkey’s meteorological authority noted the highest temperature ever recorded in the country—50.5°C (122.9°F)—in Sirnak province on Friday. July also saw record highs in 132 locations. In recent weeks, 14 people, including 10 volunteer rescuers and forestry workers, have died. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced that investigations into fires across 33 provinces have led to legal action against 97 individuals.
Regional Wildfires and International Aid
Neighboring countries faced parallel struggles. In Greece, fires burned across the southwest and on Kythera island. In Kryoneri, a northern suburb of Athens, 27 people were evacuated overnight. The fire service reported several injuries, and animal losses were confirmed on Evia island. In Bulgaria, disaster declarations were issued in multiple provinces, with nearly half the country under red-alert warnings. Fire chief Alexander Djartov said 236 blazes were active, prompting Bulgaria to request assistance from EU nations. Firefighters in Serbia also faced evacuations near the southwestern border.
