Firefighting crews battle forest fires across southern Türkiye

Firefighting crews battled forest fires across southern Türkiye on Tuesday, with blazes affecting multiple districts in Antalya and Adana. The fires, which began in Antalya’s Aksu district on Monday evening, spread rapidly due to strong winds and engulfed several neighborhoods before crews managed to prevent them from crossing major roads. At least 254 homes were evacuated in Aksu and the neighboring Kepez district, with authorities also relocating animals from affected areas. The fire originated in a forested area near the Karaöz neighborhood in Aksu and expanded toward Kepez as gusty winds propelled the flames over a larger area. Affected neighborhoods included Karaöz, Hatipler, Yeşilkaraman, Kızıllı, and Çamlıca. To ensure safety, parts of the Northern Ring Road and the Antalya-Isparta highway were temporarily closed. These routes were later reopened under controlled conditions. Aerial firefighting operations commenced early Tuesday, involving five aircraft and more than 10 helicopters. On the ground, around 110 firefighting vehicles and over 600 personnel worked to contain the blaze. The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) deployed a mobile coordination truck to the area, and teams from AFAD provincial directorates in Konya, Isparta, and Burdur, along with municipal and forestry teams, supported the effort. Mobile base station vehicles were also used following disruptions to communication networks in the region. In addition to the fire in Antalya, another blaze erupted in Adana’s Kozan district. This fire, which began in the rural Doğanalanı neighborhood, spread toward the Enizçakırı neighborhood. Authorities deployed three aircraft, nine helicopters, two drones, and numerous ground units, including 55 firefighting vehicles and 14 water tankers, to combat the fire. Approximately 40 homes in Enizçakırı were evacuated as a precaution. Efforts to contain the fire in Doğanalanı and Enizçakırı continued, with reports indicating that the blaze had damaged roughly 132 hectares of forest. Other fires in the Çorlu neighborhood of Karaisalı district, the Mansurlu neighborhood of Feke district, and the Dağılcak area of Düzağaç neighborhood in Kozan had been brought under control. Investigations into the causes of these fires were ongoing. In Antalya, officials reported that the intensity of the fire had lessened, though it remained active. Smoke and ash from the blaze drifted into the city center. Power outages affected nearly 3,000 subscribers in the area, adding to the challenges faced by residents and emergency responders. Residents described the rapid spread of the fire, with some reporting that flames approached their homes directly. One resident, Muhammet Özdemir, stated that both sides of his home were engulfed in flames, leaving little behind. Ahmet Karakış, an elected official in Aksu, confirmed that evacuations had taken place and that one house had been completely destroyed. He noted that no casualties had been reported so far. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, with firefighting teams working tirelessly to prevent further spread of the fires. Additional resources have been deployed to ensure the safety of residents and to manage the ongoing containment efforts.