Forest fires threaten the fourth largest city in Türkiye in southern Europe

Forest fires threaten the fourth largest city in Türkiye in southern Europe

Last week, the forests of Türkiye were hit by devastating forest fires , which threatened, among other things, the fourth largest city in the country, Bursa. Over 1,700 people had to leave their houses, and tragically a fireman died. The fires have been heated by extremely high temperatures, dry conditions and strong winds.

forest fires in Turkey

In the nightly hours, the flames quickly spread in the forested mountains around Bursa and color the night sky over the eastern suburbs of the city red. Since the end of June, numerous heavy forest fires have broken out in the country every day, which prompted the government to declare two western provinces, Izmir and Bilecik, on Friday.

evacuations and fire brigade measures

As the governor of Bursa announced in a statement, 1,765 people were safely evacuated from villages in the northeast, while over 1,900 firefighters fought against the flames. The highway that Bursa connects to the capital Ankara was closed because of the burning forests.

The mayor of Bursa, Mustafa Bozbey, reported that a fireman died of a heart attack during his efforts and that the flames devastated around 3,000 hectares around the city. Orhan Saribal, an opposition member of the province, described the situation as a "apocalypse".

weather conditions and effects

The weather conditions are very unfavorable. According to the Meteorology General Directorate, Turkey reached its highest temperature ever measured at 50.5 degrees Celsius on Friday. Record temperatures were also recorded in 132 other locations.

In the past few weeks, a total of 14 people have died, including ten rescue workers and forest workers who died in a fire in the western Turkish city of Eskisehir. Minister of Justice Yilmaz Tunc announced that studies on the fires have been initiated in 33 provinces since June 26 and legal steps against 97 suspects have been taken.

fires in neighboring countries

In Greece, firefighters fought against active forest fires in the southwest of the country and on the island of Kythera on Sunday. The previous day there were already fires in the northern suburb of Athens, Kryoneri, who prompted the authorities to evacuate 27 residents with the support of the police.

The fire brigade reported three people in the hospital for breathing problems and a fireman who was treated on the basis of burns. On the island of Evia, where another fire is now under control, the press reports on a large number of animals that have died in stables.

fire fighting fights in Bulgaria and Serbia

The firefighters also fought the flames in Bulgaria and on the Serbian border, while the government declared the most affected provinces of disaster areas. Inhabitants from almost half of the country received a red warning, the highest level of warnings.

The head of the national fire brigade, Alexander Djartov, announced that 236 forest fires burn, many of them heated by strong winds. The government asked EU partners for help, and support from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, France, Hungary and Sweden is on the move.

In the southwestern Strumyani, the fire became so threatening that the firefighters had to withdraw; They were reinforced by soldiers on Sunday. Dozens of people fled Tran in the western region when the flames threatened villages near the Serbian border.