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Turkey battles massive Dardanelles wildfire: Over 2,000 evacuated

Massive wildfires rage across Turkey’s Dardanelles region, forcing over 2,000 evacuations as luxury homes burn and emergency services battle flames.

Turkey battles massive Dardanelles wildfire: Over 2,000 evacuated
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In the Dardanelles region of Turkey, an uncontrolled wildfire continues to rage after breaking out for the second time in less than a month, forcing over 2,000 residents to evacuate their homes as a precautionary measure. The flames, fueled by strong winds, have destroyed luxury homes and vehicles, while firefighting forces supported by aircraft and helicopters are engaged in a fierce battle to contain the blaze, which threatens to spread to other regions of the country.

The new fire erupted yesterday around 1:30 PM in an agricultural area in the city of Kepez, and due to strong winds quickly spread to forested areas and settlements in Güzelyalı. During the night, the flames consumed homes – mostly luxury properties – as well as vehicles.



The firefighting operations, now continuing for a second 24-hour period, involve 10 firefighting aircraft and 9 helicopters, while ground forces include 75 fire trucks, 35 firefighters, 10 bulldozers, 92 support vehicles and a total of 760 personnel members.

The Turkish government reports that several fire fronts have been brought under partial or full control, however several hotspots remain active and firefighting forces continue to battle the flames. Specifically, Agriculture and Forestry Minister İbrahim Yumaklı announced that fires in Bolu Mudurnu, Ayvacık in Çanakkale, and Dikili in Izmir have been brought under full control, while fires in central Çanakkale and Dardanos have been largely controlled.

As a precautionary measure, three villages were evacuated, with 2,090 residents safely relocated. A total of 77 people experienced respiratory problems due to heavy smoke and were transported to hospitals, with no life-threatening conditions reported.

The fire caused temporary closure of Dardanelles airport, while navigation through the straits was partially suspended from south to north. Güzelyalı suffered significant damage as many villas were reduced to ash; drone footage in the morning revealed scenes of complete destruction.

Currently, both the airport and the Dardanelles Straits are operating normally, while the highway connecting the city to Ezine has been reopened to traffic.

Overall, Turkey is facing 55 forest fire hotspots in various regions. Besides the Dardanelles, serious fronts are recorded in Soma in Manisa, Mudurnu in Bolu, Bozyazı in Mersin, Germencik in Aydın, Araç in Kastamonu, and Göksun in Kahramanmaraş. Of the total fires, 45 have been brought under control, while efforts continue to extinguish the remaining blazes.

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