Turkey Faces Escalating Forest Fires Despite Improvement in Izmir

Turkey continues to face forest fires for the fourth consecutive day, with dozens of fires erupting in various areas, most notably in the Aegean Sea states in the northwest of the country, including Aydın, Izmir, and Kutahya, amid intensive efforts to extinguish them on the ground and from the air.

The Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority announced the evacuation of more than 42,000 people from Izmir province due to the expansion of the fires, which reached forests, residential areas, and industrial areas in the provinces of Izmir and Manisa.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Ibrahim Yumakli, stated in a press conference held two days ago that "the situation has improved and is much better than it was yesterday regarding the fires around Izmir," but he pointed out that "six fires are still burning in the country, fueled by strong winds, and are likely to intensify in the coming days, especially in the regions of Hatay and Antakya (to the south), which are the most problematic for firefighting teams."

The minister revealed the registration of 342 forest fires since last Friday, warning of the difficult weather conditions facing the country, with strong and unstable winds and temperatures rising above 30 degrees Celsius. He also expected wide areas of the Marmara Sea, Aegean Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea to experience strong winds starting from the following day, which could further complicate firefighting operations.

Yumakli warned citizens of the danger of igniting fires in open areas or throwing cigarette butts in grassy areas, especially with expectations of a significant rise in temperatures.