İzmir Forest Fire Enters Third Day: 5 Villages Evacuated, Intervention Continues

Izmir – A large forest fire raging between İzmir's Menderes and Seferihisar districts has entered its third day, leading to the evacuation of five villages and two neighborhoods. Fierce winds are significantly hindering firefighting efforts.

The blaze, which began around 1:00 PM on Sunday, June 30, in the forested area between Kuyucak (Menderes) and Orhanlı (Seferihisar) neighborhoods, continues to spread under the influence of strong winds. Both aerial and ground teams are making intensive efforts to control the flames, but wind speeds exceeding 100 kilometers per hour are severely complicating the operation.

Due to the fire, a total of five villages, along with the Atatürk and Cumhuriyet neighborhoods, have been evacuated. Twenty-one individuals affected by smoke were hospitalized and subsequently discharged after treatment. One citizen trapped amidst the flames was successfully rescued by emergency teams.

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı visited the region yesterday to inspect the fire response. Yumaklı stated, "We are responding to the ongoing fires in Seferihisar and Menderes with 4 planes, 14 helicopters, 106 fire tenders, and numerous ground vehicles. However, sudden changes in wind direction are making the intervention very difficult."

Minister Yumaklı also noted that the fire is active at 8 different points, with teams concentrating their efforts on these areas. While aerial intervention remains limited during night hours, ground crews are continuing their work tirelessly.

In the affected regions, many homes have been damaged, with some rendered unusable. Drone footage captured after the fire clearly shows the devastating aftermath of the flames.

Authorities have urged citizens to heed warnings and comply with evacuation orders, emphasizing that controlling the fire may take time depending on the wind's course.

Source: DHA