Latest news with #CemilTugay
Time Out
2 days ago
- Time Out
Is it safe to travel to Türkiye? Latest advice as wildfires lead to evacuations and cancelled flights
Türkiye is one of Europe's most-visited summer holiday destinations, and İzmir, a city which lies on the Aegean coast, is a go-to for its gorgeous beaches and ancient historical sites. However, exactly one year after we reported on the region being ravaged by wildfires in 2024, more fires broke out on Sunday June 29 and are yet to be contained, with 50,000 people having been evacuated. If you have a trip booked to Türkiye, this is obviously worrying news. So, read on for everything you need to know about travelling to the country amidst the continuing wildfires, and whether you could be entitled to some compensation. Where are the wildfires in Türkiye? Türkiye's western region of İzmir, which is popular with tourists, has been ravaged by wildfires since Sunday June 29. The fires broke out and spread due to strong, dry winds which reached up to 75 mph. Kuyucak and Doganbey are two areas particularly affected. Is it safe to travel? AFAD, Türkiye's emergency management authority, has said that 50,000 people have been evacuated because of the blaze, and a little over 42,000 of these were from Seferihisar in İzmir. It has also said 350 personnel are helping combat the fires, with support from the Turkish Red Cross. İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport had to close temporarily on Monday June 30, with the departure boards showing that all flights had been suspended as of 4pm local time. Services have since resumed, but travellers are being encouraged to check their flight status before leaving home. According to Manchester Evening News, around 80 people have been given hospital treatment due to the fires, but thankfully no fatalities have been reported. If you have a trip booked to the region in the next few days, your best bet would be to contact your travel provider directly for all the latest information on whether your accommodation might be affected by the evacuations. Travel to other destinations in Türkiye like Antalya, Bodrum, Cappadocia and Istanbul is safe. What started the fires in Türkiye? Western Europe is currently engulfed in a 'heat dome' (when high pressure traps hot air), and it's been compounded by hot air from North Africa and worsened by pollution. According to the Mayor of İzmir, Dr Cemil Tugay, the majority of fires in the region were started by 'human hands', but the extremely dry conditions and strong winds whipping through the region have helped the fire to spread. 'We are simultaneously battling numerous fires breaking out all across our beautiful İzmir. In collaboration with relevant institutions, our Fire Department, along with heavy machinery, tankers, and all field personnel, is on high alert,' said Tugay. 'A small act of negligence is enough to burn down an entire forest, thousands of creatures living within it, and our homes. Please, let us be extremely careful from now on. Especially in hot weather, let us steer clear of any activities that could cause a fire.' What's the latest UK Foreign Office advice? The FCDO has not updated its travel advice in light of the wildfires, but the safety and security page has a section which reads: 'Wildfires happen frequently in Turkey during summer. You could get a fine or prison sentence for lighting a fire of any kind or discarding cigarettes in risk areas such as woodland. Look out for signs that tell you fires, barbeques, and smoking are prohibited. If there is a wildfire in your area, local authorities may tell you to leave your accommodation. Follow the directions of local authorities. If you see a wildfire, call emergency services on 112.' Can I get a refund if I choose not to travel because of wildfires? Because the FCDO has not issued advice against travelling to Türkiye because of the fires, you won't automatically be entitled to a refund if you decide not to travel. Contract your travel provider directly to see what can be done. As for flights, UK travellers are covered by the law if you depart from a UK airport, arrive at a UK airport on a UK or EU airline, or arrive at an EU airport on a UK airline. What this means is that your airline must provide you with assistance if your flight is cancelled, such as with food vouchers or overnight accommodation. This isn't always possible with big disasters as resources can be overstretched, but you can cover yourself and then claim compensation later (but keep all of your receipts!). The Civil Aviation Authority says all these things must be covered until you can reach your destination. However, according to the Independent this isn't necessarily the case if the cancellation wasn't the airline's fault, such as with natural disasters, so check directly with your transport provider. What started the fires in Türkiye in 2024? Dry weather and extremely hot temperatures from mid-June until early July 2024 saw similar regions affected by wildfires. Where else in Europe has been affected by wildfires? Europe is suffering a serious heatwave right now, with destinations such as Italy, Spain, France, and Croatia being scorched by extremely high temperatures. However, Türkiye is the only country experiencing wildfires right now. If you're travelling to the region, keep an eye on local media for the best precautions to take, and read our guide to the heatwave here.
Metro
3 days ago
- Climate
- Metro
Turkey wildfires force flights at Izmir Airport to be cancelled and diverted
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Rapidly spreading forest fires forced Adnan Menderes Airport, one of Turkey's busiest hubs, to temporarily close as authorities struggle to contain the flames. Strong winds are threatening to worsen the situation in Izmir Province, on the country's Mediterranean west coast. The airport, which serves the popular tourist destination city of Izmir, was shut for a period yesterday with services just now returning to normal. According to its website, flights scheduled to leave yesterday evening will finally be getting off the ground today – with one returning to London Stanstead after a delay of more than 20 hours. Izmir Mayor Dr Cemil Tugay said: 'Today is a very tough day for us – we are simultaneously battling numerous fires breaking out all across our beautiful Izmir. 'In collaboration with relevant institutions, our Fire Department, along with heavy machinery, tankers, and all field personnel, is on high alert. 'Our teams are working with all their strength to combat the fires, which have grown due to the effect of the storm, particularly in Menderes, Seferihisar, and Gaziemir.' He said the 'vast majority' of the fires were 'caused by human hands', and urged people in the area to be extremely careful. Images posted by Turkey's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry on X show firefighters in Izmir working through the night extinguishing flames with hoses in dense trees. Ibrahim Yumaklı, the forestry minister, wrote: 'Our heroes continue their relentless struggle against the flames under the toughest conditions, day and night, with all their might.' Wildfires have also appeared in top tourist spots Antalya and Mersin, though authorities have reportedly contained or extinguished them. Temperatures in Izmir are expected to reach 36°C later today, and could approach 40°C later this week. More Trending Turkey is among the countries that have been worst-affected by the ongoing heatwave sweeping southern Europe. Over the weekend, Spain, Portugal, Greece and France all issued extreme heat, wildfire and health warnings. The Greek island of Chios, which is the fifth largest in the country, was ravaged by blazes that tore through 11,000 acres of bush and pasture land. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Flying Ant Day is coming, and experts warn it could be the worst one yet MORE: How does this year's summer heatwave compare to the sizzler in 1976? MORE: Is it safe to travel to Spain during the heatwave? Latest advice as Seville hits 41C
The Independent
3 days ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Wildfires force airport to close at popular holiday spot
wildfires are currently raging in İzmir, a coastal city in Turkey, causing significant disruption. Adnan Menderes airport in İzmir was temporarily closed on Sunday, June 29, leading to numerous flight cancellations and diversions. While flights are gradually resuming, severe delays persist, with some flights delayed by over 20 hours and others cancelled. Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay urged residents to be extremely careful, noting that strong winds exacerbated the fires and human negligence is often the cause. The fires in Turkey occur as Europe faces its first major summer heatwave, with other countries like Greece and France also experiencing high fire risks.
