‘Burnt alive': Sudden wind shift kills 10 workers battling wildfire in western Turkiye
Agriculture minister Ibrahim Yumakli said the fire killed five forest workers and five rescuers. Local lawmaker Nebi Hatipoglu and news website BirGun had earlier said 11 had died.
High temperatures and strong winds have fanned the wildfire between Istanbul and the capital Ankara since Tuesday morning, with the spread threatening homes and forcing the evacuation of several villages.
The victims were wrong-footed when the flames suddenly changed direction, causing them to be 'burnt alive', according to BirGun.
Twenty-four workers were caught in the 'brusque evolution of the flames' of whom 14 were being treated in hospital, minister Yumakli told broadcasters on Wednesday evening.
'Unfortunately, we have lost five forest workers and five (rescuers),' he added.
Hatipoglu, a deputy from the ruling AKP party, wrote on X there were 'no words to describe our grief'.
Turkey has been sweltering since Sunday under temperatures between six to 12 degrees Celsius above the seasonal norms and several fires have been declared.
Scientists have long warned that burning fossil fuels is making extreme weather events such as heatwaves more likely and more intense. — AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Malay Mail
Mukah forest fire near UiTM scorches over 100ha, helicopter water bombs hotspots after two weeks
MUKAH, Aug 2 — A forest fire near Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Mukah that began on July 18 has now scorched a total of 105.98 hectares, with firefighting efforts still ongoing. Zone 4 Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Sibu chief Andy Alie said current operations are focused on Sector 3a and 3b near the airport runway, and Sector 1 near a sago plantation, which are areas that pose risks of spreading to nearby villages and plantations. 'As of Saturday, the estimated area affected in the three main sectors is 30.65 hectares, bringing the total land impacted by the fire to 105.98 hectares,' he said when contacted. He said Sector 1 involved 5.32 hectares, while Sectors 2 and 3 covered 25.33 hectares. Although light rain has helped reduce smoke, several areas are still smouldering. Personnel from various agencies working together at the site during the firefighting operation in Mukah. The operation involves 232 personnel from 11 agencies, including Bomba, the Armed Forces, police, RELA, Civil Defence, SEB and private plantation workers. An aerial view of the forest area in Mukah, Sarawak affected by the fire, which has scorched over 105 hectares as of August 2, 2025. — The Borneo Post pic A MI171 helicopter was also deployed for water bombing operations, carrying out four water drops totaling 6,360 litres before being flown back to Miri for maintenance after 2.9 hours of operation. Andy said firefighting is being conducted using offensive and defensive methods, including open water sources and excavators creating fire breaks to prevent the blaze from spreading to high-risk areas. 'Monitoring will continue until the fire is completely extinguished and the affected areas are safe,' he added. — The Borneo Post
The Sun
28-07-2025
- The Sun
Turkey wildfires rage amid heatwave and strong winds
ISTANBUL: Firefighters are battling multiple wildfires across Turkey as the country endures an intense heatwave, officials confirmed. The blazes, fueled by strong winds, have claimed at least 14 lives and forced the evacuation of 19 villages. Over 3,500 people have been displaced as flames spread near Bursa, Karabük, and Kahramanmaras. Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli stated, 'Five fires have been brought under control in four provinces,' but efforts remain hindered by gusty conditions. Temperatures soared past 40°C last week, with Silopi near the Iraqi-Syrian border recording a historic 50.5°C. Yumakli admitted, 'Given the size and intensity of the fires, the state's ability to respond quickly to such disasters is sometimes limited.' A firefighter died of a heart attack on Saturday, while three others perished in a water tanker accident Sunday. Last Wednesday, 10 forest workers and rescuers lost their lives near Eskisehir. – AFP
New Straits Times
27-07-2025
- New Straits Times
Turkiye evacuates thousands as firefighters battle wildfires
ANKARA: Firefighters battled wildfires across Turkiye on Sunday amid a searing Mediterranean heatwave, with authorities evacuating more than 3,600 people from settlements in two provinces. Wildfires in the southern provinces of Mersin and Antalya as well as the central province of Usak were largely brought under control, but blazes in the northwestern province of Bursa and the northern province of Karabuk were still burning, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli told reporters. A wildfire broke out in a forested area between the Gursu and Kestel districts of Bursa, home to much of Turkiye's auto industry, on Saturday. Part of a motorway connecting Istanbul with the western city of Izmir was briefly closed on Saturday night due to the fire. Huge flames engulfed trees in areas close to homes in Bursa as smoke covered the sky over the city, footage showed. Some 1,765 people in Bursa's Kestel district were evacuated, Yumakli said, adding that 2,000 firefighters were struggling to battle the wildfire in the area with the help of six firefighting planes and four helicopters. In the northern province of Karabuk, where a large wildfire has been burning for five days, 1,839 people in 19 villages were evacuated, Yumakli said. Three planes and 16 helicopters are tackling the blazes in the area amid difficult conditions, he added. "We are going through risky times. This does not seem likely to end in two or three days," Yumakli said, referring to the heatwave. Temperatures in several regions in Turkiye were forecast to reach over 40 degrees Celsius on Sunday, 6 to 12 degrees above seasonal norms, Turkiye's meteorological service said, as thermometers hit 50 degrees Celsius in the country's southeast on Saturday for the first time in recorded history.
