Minister Yumaklı reported that 9 of the wildfires across Türkiye were classified as major, and the blazes in Manisa’s Akhisar district as well as İzmir’s Kuyucak and Doğanbey areas have not yet been brought under control.
Yumaklı surveyed the affected areas by air between the Menderes and Seferihisar districts in İzmir and received briefings from officials. Speaking to the press in Orhanlı Neighborhood, he recalled that the General Directorate of Meteorology had issued strong wind warnings earlier in the week for the Marmara, Aegean, and partially Mediterranean regions, emphasizing the need for caution.
3 wildfires still ongoing
"Despite warnings, wildfires have broken out in various locations. Today alone, 77 fires were recorded, 53 of which were outside forested areas," Yumaklı said. "I don’t want to distinguish between forest and non-forest fires here, because the point is that we are dealing with a broad and intense firefighting effort. Nine of these fires were large-scale, and three of them — in Manisa Akhisar, İzmir Kuyucak, and Doğanbey — are still ongoing and severe."
He noted that the fire in Manisa’s Akhisar district, which had been partially brought under control, flared up again due to strong winds. While most fires are now under control thanks to extensive efforts, winds reaching up to 120 km/h in İzmir have posed serious risks — even causing near crashes of aerial firefighting vehicles.
Minister Yumaklı shared that 1,113 personnel, 11 planes, 27 helicopters, 281 fire trucks, construction equipment, and other vehicles have been mobilized in İzmir to fight the fires.
He underlined that two aircraft have been operating continuously, and helicopters have been deployed as wind conditions allow and based on terrain suitability. "Efforts will continue throughout the night, making use of calmer conditions," he said. "Meteorological data indicates that winds in Doğanbey and Kuyucak will persist at 40–50 km/h overnight. Our teams remain on high alert in these areas, which include residential zones."
Yumaklı added that four villages and two neighborhoods have been evacuated as a precaution, and if necessary, further evacuations will be coordinated through AFAD, the gendarmerie, and the police. "At this time, no further evacuations are required," he concluded.
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