Turkiye Battles Izmir Wildfires for Second Day, Flights Suspended and Villages Evacuated

Turkiye’s Firefighters Battle Wildfires in Izmir, Triggering Evacuations and Flight Suspensions

IZMIR, TURKIYE – For a second consecutive day, wildfires in western Turkiye’s Izmir province have raged out of control, forcing the evacuation of multiple areas, grounding aircraft, and halting operations at Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport.

The fires, intensified by strong winds of up to 50 km/h (30 mph), have spread rapidly through forested areas near Kuyucak and Doganbey, said Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli.

“We are using every resource available,” Yumakli stated during a press briefing. “More than 1,000 personnel, along with helicopters and firefighting aircraft, are on the ground.”

Airport Closed and Neighborhoods Cleared

The blaze has severely disrupted operations in the region. Flights at Izmir airport were suspended as smoke engulfed the airspace.

In the Seferihisar and Menderes districts, five neighborhoods were evacuated as flames approached residential zones. Inhabitants in Urkmez village cut down trees to create firebreaks and protect homes.

“The fire was spreading fast. We had no time,” said a resident interviewed by AFP.

Fire Threatens Industrial Zone in Gaziemir

Another fire broke out at a landfill in Gaziemir, about 13 km from central Izmir, quickly spreading to nearby woodlands and threatening the Otokent industrial zone, which houses car dealerships and businesses.

Footage aired on NTV showed a dealership engulfed in flames as smoke clouds loomed overhead.

Rising Climate Risk and Regional Impact

Turkiye’s coastal regions have become increasingly vulnerable to wildfires, with summers growing hotter and drier — a trend scientists attribute to climate change. Last year, Izmir faced a similar large-scale fire disaster.

Elsewhere in Southern Europe, wildfires are also straining emergency services:

• France: A fire in Aude’s Corbieres region forced the evacuation of a campsite and an abbey.

• Greece: Firefighters tackled a forest blaze near Athens, prompting evacuations.

• Portugal: Large areas including Lisbon were placed under red weather alerts as extreme heat gripped the country.