Turkey Battling Devastating Wildfires: Bursa Under Threat, 14 Lives Lost Nationwide
Turkiye is grappling with a severe wildfire crisis, with flames now threatening Bursa, the country's fourth-largest city, located in the northwest. The escalating inferno has forced the evacuation of over 1,700 residents and tragically claimed the life of at least one firefighter in the Bursa region. This comes as the nationwide death toll from wildfires, fueled by extreme heat and dry conditions, has risen to 14.
The Threat to Bursa:
Evacuations: As of Sunday, July 27, the Bursa governor's office confirmed that 1,765 people have been safely evacuated from villages to the northeast of the city. These communities are situated in the forested mountains surrounding Bursa, where overnight fires have spread rapidly.
Intense Battle: More than 1,100 firefighters are battling the flames around Bursa. The highway linking Bursa to the capital, Ankara, has been closed due to the burning forests, severely disrupting movement.
Scale of Destruction: The fires have already scorched 3,000 hectares (approximately 7,413 acres) of land around Bursa, turning vast areas of farms and pine forests into an ashen landscape. An opposition parliamentarian for the province described the scene as "an apocalypse."
Firefighter Fatality: The city's mayor, Mustafa Bozbey, confirmed that a firefighter died from a heart attack while on duty battling the blazes in Bursa.
Nationwide Wildfire Crisis:
Growing Death Toll: The current fatality count from wildfires across Turkiye has tragically reached 14 people in recent weeks. This includes 10 rescue volunteers and forestry workers who were killed on Wednesday, July 23, in a fire in Eskisehir, western Turkiye, after a sudden wind shift trapped them.
Numerous Blazes: Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli reported that fire crews across the country confronted 76 separate blazes on Saturday, July 26. The country's northwest, including provinces like Karabuk (where wildfires have burned since Tuesday) and Bursa, is currently under the greatest threat.
Extreme Conditions: The wildfires are being intensely fueled by unseasonably high temperatures, extremely dry conditions, and strong winds. Turkiye recorded its highest-ever temperature of 50.5 degrees Celsius (122.9 degrees Fahrenheit) in the southeastern Sirnak province on Friday, July 25, setting a new national record. July's highest temperatures were also observed in 132 other locations across the country.
Official Declarations: The severity of the fires prompted the government to declare two western provinces, Izmir and Bilecik, as disaster areas on Friday, July 25.
Investigations: Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced that prosecutors have investigated fires in 33 provinces since June 26, with legal action initiated against 97 suspects.
The situation remains critical in Bursa and other parts of Turkiye as firefighters continue their relentless efforts to contain the widespread blazes.
