Nearly 4,000 residents have been evacuated in western Turkey due to wildfires, with six people arrested for alleged sabotage. The disaster management agency reported that helicopters and water bombers were deployed to battle the blaze in Izmir, a popular resort city on the Aegean coast. Thousands of people were moved to safety in several districts, with 131 wildfires breaking out in agricultural and forested areas in cities like Izmir, Manisa, Bolu, and Aydin over the past week. Minister Ibrahim Yumakli stated that 17 homes were burned and hundreds evacuated in Izmir.
In total, about 1,600 hectares of land have been affected by the wildfires. The government has detained six individuals suspected of sabotage in connection to the fires. Wildfires are a common occurrence in Turkey’s Mediterranean and Aegean regions during the dry summer months. The situation in Turkey is not isolated, as heatwaves in the Mediterranean have also led to devastating wildfires, with Greece experiencing its worst wildfires this year near Athens. Experts attribute these extreme weather events to climate change.
The authorities continue to battle the flames with air and ground support, emphasizing the importance of public safety and coordinated efforts to contain the wildfires. The impact of these natural disasters underscores the urgent need for global action to address climate change and its destructive consequences.
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