Forest fires in Turkey trigger evacuations in Canakkale and Kocaeli

Istanbul: A massive forest fire in Turkey’s northwestern province of Canakkale has forced the evacuation of five villages, local authorities said.

Governor Omer Toraman announced on X that 11 planes, 10 helicopters and ground crews were deployed to tackle the fast-spreading blaze, which has been fueled by winds blowing at around 50 km per hour. He said the villages were cleared as a precautionary measure.

Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said firefighting efforts were continuing “with full force and without interruption” to bring the situation under control. Canakkale, along with Kocaeli and Bursa provinces, has been battling a series of wildfires in recent weeks, driven by extreme heat, low humidity and strong winds.

Meanwhile, another wildfire broke out on Friday in Kocaeli’s Karamursel district, prompting the evacuation of Akcat village as flames advanced towards homes. The Kocaeli Governor’s Office said firefighting operations were underway with six planes, 10 helicopters, 75 vehicles and 200 personnel.

Images shared by the Demiroren News Agency showed houses destroyed and rendered uninhabitable. Winds in the region were forecast to reach 60 to 80 km per hour until Saturday evening, raising further concerns over the spread of the blaze.

Officials confirmed that the Kocaeli fire was brought under control by Saturday, but warned residents to remain cautious.