Türkiye: new fire: more than 250 people evacuated

More than 250 people were evacuated on the night of Saturday to Sunday in Türkiye following a new fire in the tourist province of Celanakkale (northwest), according to the authorities.

The fire started there on Saturday and quickly spread due to strong winds blowing on the hills close to the city of Geliboli, bordering the very frequented strait of the Dardanelles.

“As a precautionary measure, 251 inhabitants of five villages have been relocated to safe areas,” wrote the governor of Ceunakkale, Omer Toraman, on X. Images have been broadcast showing the hills enlightened by lively flames and huge clouds of smoke pouring into the night air.

Twelve planes and 18 helicopters, and joined the dawn on rescue operations involving 900 people, said the forest management on X.

A popular destination for tourists for its ancient ruins of Troy as well as for the battlefield of Gallipoli, where thousands of soldiers died during the First World War, the province suffered from an “extremely severe drought” during the past year, the governor recalled.

Access to historical sites close to the city of Eceabat has been closed “due to the current forest fire,” said the management of the local world war.

Much of northwest Turkey has been affected by strong winds in recent days, even if they have diminished on Sunday.

Already on August 11, more than 2,000 people had to be evacuated in this Turkish province due to fire. A violent fire had devastated homes and intoxicated dozens of inhabitants.

Turkey, which has experienced its hottest July since the start of weather readings 55 years ago, has faced several weeks in recent weeks. Fourteen people lost their lives by fighting the fires in July in the west of the country.

Experts claim that climate change increases the frequency and intensity of forest fires and other natural disasters and have urged Turkey to take action to remedy this problem.