Hundreds evacuated as wildfires rage near Antalya
Winds of about 30 km/h spread the blaze toward residential areas; firefighting operations continue in Antalya, Adana and Mersin.
A large forest fire near Antalya on Turkey's Mediterranean coast forced the evacuation of hundreds of residents on Tuesday as strong winds pushed flames toward built-up areas, authorities and local reports said.
Fire spreads fast in Aksu, crews battle from air and ground
In the Aksu district, gusts of wind measured up to 30 kilometres per hour helped the blaze spread quickly. Officials evacuated 254 homes and 720 people in Aksu and the neighbouring Kepez district, and residents in other nearby localities are being moved to safety.
Two people were hospitalised with leg injuries, while six others received on-site treatment for smoke inhalation. The motorway between Antalya and the city of Isparta, about 130 kilometres to the north, was temporarily closed because of the incident.
Firefighters are fighting the flames from the air and on the ground using aircraft, helicopters, water tankers, heavy machinery and emergency vehicles. Authorities reported the intensity of the blaze had decreased and said they were hopeful it could be brought under control. Smoke and ash have been felt in Antalya's city centre.
City officials confirmed that more than 100 dogs were moved from a shelter in Aksu after the fire and dense smoke threatened the facility. Local reports also said over 2,000 households in the region were left without electricity.
Fire teams are also responding to blazes in the neighbouring provinces of Adana and Mersin. The General Directorate of Forestry said fires in those areas have been brought under control and that extinguishing operations continue.
Social media posts from the area captured the scale and urgency of the situation. One user wrote: "#BREAKING : Antalya skies burn red as fires force people out Who’s behind this? #Antalya #TurkeyFires #Wildfire" — Twilight (@TwilightDewy). Another posted: "BREAKING: An out-of-control forest fire has swept into Antalya, Türkiye. Dense smoke is affecting residents, while Jandarma and emergency crews evacuate Yeşilkaraman as locals battle the rapidly spreading blaze." — HINT News (@9415st).
Photo: press material from the event
