Two volunteer firefighters die amid wildfires in Turkey
Another worker died earlier at the scene of the accident and a firefighter died on Sunday after suffering a heart attack.
Their deaths raised Turkey's wildfire fatalities to 17 since late June, including 10 rescue volunteers and forestry workers killed on Wednesday in a fire in Eskisehir, western Turkey.
Huge fires around Bursa, Turkey's fourth-largest city, broke out over the weekend, leading to more than 3,500 people fleeing their homes.
On Monday morning, fog-like smoke from ongoing fires and smouldering foliage hung over the city.
Unseasonably high temperatures, dry conditions and strong winds have been fuelling the wildfires, with Turkey and other parts of the eastern Mediterranean experiencing record-breaking heatwaves.
The fires around Bursa were among hundreds to have hit Turkey over the past month.
While firefighting teams have contained the damage to a limited number of homes, vast tracts of forest have been turned to ash.
The water tanker crew comprised volunteers from nearby Bolu province heading to the village of Aglasan, north-east of Bursa, to combat a blaze when the vehicle fell into a ditch while negotiating a rough forest track, IHA reported.
Turkey battled at least 44 separate fires on Sunday, forestry minister Ibrahim Yumakli said late on Sunday.
He identified two fires in Bursa province, as well as blazes in Karabuk, north-west Turkey, and Kahramanmaras in the south, as the most serious.
The government declared disaster areas in two western provinces, Izmir and Bilecik.
Prosecutions have been launched against 97 people in 33 of Turkey's 81 provinces in relation to the fires, justice minister Yilmaz Tunc said.
A crowd of people gathered on Sunday evening outside a police station in the village of Harmancik, 57 kilometres (35 miles) south of Bursa, after learning a suspected arsonist was detained there.
The angry crowd demanded for the suspect to be handed over to them.
The crowd dispersed after police assured them a thorough investigation would be undertaken.
In Albania, firefighters battled at least six separate wildfires on Monday, the Defence Ministry said.
Two weeks of blazes have ravaged thousands of hectares of forest in the Balkan country.
The areas most at risk were in the north east, where inaccessible mountain plateaus had water-dropping aircraft carrying out the bulk of the firefighting.
In the country's southern region, overnight winds ignited blazes in the municipalities of Delvine and Konispol in the Himare district on the Adriatic coast, which suffered wildfires last week.
Authorities said at least a dozen people were arrested over the weekend over the wildfires.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Shock moment tourists flee as TORNADO smashes into Italian beach sending parasols flying into the air
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THIS is the shocking moment a tornado barrelled into a packed Italian beach - sending parasols hurtling into the sky as panicked tourists ran for their lives. Wild footage captured the terrifying twister tearing across the shore in Maccarese, north of Rome. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Shocking video footage captured the moment tourists were forced to leave an Italian beach after a tornado hit Credit: Facebook/Fregene Beach 3 Sunseekers in Maccarese held on to their belongings as parasols were sent into the sky Credit: Facebook/Fregene Beach 3 Separate footage captured near the Delta del Po showed a pair of giant waterspouts Credit: Facebook/Emilia Romagna Meteo Dozens of stunned sunseekers were seen sprinting across the sand as the swirling column of wind ripped umbrellas out of the ground and flung them into the air like darts. Terrified locals and tourists clutched their bags and beach gear to their chests while desperately fleeing the chaos on Sunday. Sand and parasols swirled high above their heads, creating a dizzying vortex over the beachfront as the tornado carved through the scene. Incredibly, some beachgoers refused to budge — staying glued to their loungers even as the winds whipped towels and belongings across the sand. Read more on tornadoes HORROR FLOODS Spain weather hell as search called off for two swept away in floods At least one woman suffered minor injuries, according to local reports, and required medical attention after the whirlwind struck. But the drama was far from over. Around 1pm that same day, another violent weather spectacle was caught on camera off Italy's east coast. A pair of towering waterspouts spun out of a thunderstorm near the Delta del Po, stunning locals and halting boat tours. Watch moment towering waterspout tornado slams into beach sending bathers fleeing running and hurling tables & chairs One tour boat operator paused his excursion to capture the rare double phenomenon which saw the twin columns "dance" across the sea. The Emilia-Romagna Meteo Facebook page later shared the eerie footage, showing the watery spires forming, folding, and merging during the storm. Waterspouts — tornado-like funnels that form over water — aren't unheard of in Europe, with around 500 recorded each year. But locals were warned this week to brace for more. A moderate wind warning was issued by Italy's Meteorological Service on Monday, cautioning residents of "moderate intensity weather phenomena" in the north. Heavy rain and thunderstorms are also forecast to hammer the Marche and Umbria regions through late Monday morning. Last year, a towering waterspout tornado crashed into a packed-out beach on Italy's Adriatic coast. Holidaymakers in Salento were sent into a frenzy as the massive waterspout hurtled toward the San Cataldo, Torre Specchia, and San Foca marinas. Videos showed the menacing spout churning out of dark clouds and charging at the beach, tossing deckchairs, tables and even jet skis into the air. Panic erupted as families bolted from the shoreline. One clip showed beachgoers fleeing up a flight of steps just before the spout slams into the sand, leaving a trail of wreckage behind. Bins, umbrellas, and sunbeds were scattered across the beach like toys.
Scottish Sun
28-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
At least 17 killed in ‘apocalyptic' Turkey wildfires sparked by record 50C heatwave as thousands flee their homes
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AT least 17 people have been killed in apocalyptic wildfires tearing through Turkey as record-breaking 50C heat and howling winds fuel devastation across the eastern Mediterranean. The infernos have forced more than 3,500 residents to flee their homes since late June, with vast swathes of forest reduced to ash. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Giant flames took over the Orhaneli district of Bursa, Turkiye Credit: Getty 6 Thousands of residents were forced to flee their homes Credit: Getty 6 Efforts continue to bring a forest fire under control in Orhaneli district of Bursa, Turkiye, as the blaze enters its third day on July 28 Credit: Getty Ten rescue volunteers and forestry workers lost their lives in a blaze in Eskisehir last week, while four more died outside Bursa over the weekend. Two volunteer firefighters succumbed to injuries after being pulled from an overturned water tanker. Another worker died at the scene and a firefighter suffered a fatal heart attack on Sunday. Turkey's forestry minister Ibrahim Yumakli confirmed that crews battled at least 44 separate fires on Sunday alone, declaring the western provinces of Izmir and Bilecik disaster areas. The chaos comes as firefighters across the region struggle to contain a wave of blazes fuelled by a relentless heatwave and bone-dry conditions. Across Turkey alone, firefighters have battled more than 600 blazes in the past week, with over 1,900 emergency responders drafted in to help save trapped residents. With record-breaking temperatures showing no sign of easing, officials fear the death toll could rise as the eastern Mediterranean braces for even more infernos. In Greece, a week-long heatwave peaking at 45C sparked multiple wildfires, forcing mass evacuations near Athens and across the islands of Crete and Evia. A huge blaze scorched a northern suburb of the Greek capital on Saturday, with 115 firefighters and 24 vehicles deployed on Evia, backed by six planes and seven helicopters. Meanwhile, Cyprus is battling what officials have branded its worst wildfires 'for 50 years.' Shock moment beachgoers surrounded by smoke as raging wildfires in Italian hols hotspot With temperatures soaring to 44C, dozens of homes have been destroyed in the Troodos mountains. Brit couple Lucy and Ben Armstrong were among those left homeless. Ben told The Sun: 'We lost everything that day, there's nothing left. 'We had fish tanks in the house and there was absolutely nothing left of what was in the water except melted glass on the floor.' Two people were found dead in a burnt-out car as more than 70 houses were reduced to rubble. Meanwhile, in Sardinia, Italy, tourists were sent running for their lives when flames ripped right down to the beach at Punta Molentis on the island's southeast coast. 6 The wildfire, which initially appeared to be slowing, grew again due to strong winds Credit: Getty 6 Vast swathes of forest have been reduced to ash Credit: Getty Sunbathers abandoned their towels and spades as thick black smoke engulfed the shoreline. The coast guard evacuated 102 people by sea, while helicopters hovered overhead during the dramatic operation. Some 200 cars and a kiosk were torched as the blaze tore through the Sarrabus area — described by local media as a 'jewel' now reduced to cinders. Footage showed burnt-out vehicles after flames ravaged the parking area, leaving many stranded. Fire crews deployed two Canadair firefighting planes, a helicopter, regional aircraft, and even an Italian Air Force vehicle to contain the inferno as winds fanned the flames.
The Sun
28-07-2025
- The Sun
At least 17 killed in ‘apocalyptic' Turkey wildfires sparked by record 50C heatwave as thousands flee their homes
AT least 17 people have been killed in apocalyptic wildfires tearing through Turkey as record-breaking 50C heat and howling winds fuel devastation across the eastern Mediterranean. The infernos have forced more than 3,500 residents to flee their homes since late June, with vast swathes of forest reduced to ash. 6 6 Ten rescue volunteers and forestry workers lost their lives in a blaze in Eskisehir last week, while four more died outside Bursa over the weekend. Two volunteer firefighters succumbed to injuries after being pulled from an overturned water tanker. Another worker died at the scene and a firefighter suffered a fatal heart attack on Sunday. Turkey's forestry minister Ibrahim Yumakli confirmed that crews battled at least 44 separate fires on Sunday alone, declaring the western provinces of Izmir and Bilecik disaster areas. The chaos comes as firefighters across the region struggle to contain a wave of blazes fuelled by a relentless heatwave and bone-dry conditions. Across Turkey alone, firefighters have battled more than 600 blazes in the past week, with over 1,900 emergency responders drafted in to help save trapped residents. With record-breaking temperatures showing no sign of easing, officials fear the death toll could rise as the eastern Mediterranean braces for even more infernos. In Greece, a week-long heatwave peaking at 45C sparked multiple wildfires, forcing mass evacuations near Athens and across the islands of Crete and Evia. A huge blaze scorched a northern suburb of the Greek capital on Saturday, with 115 firefighters and 24 vehicles deployed on Evia, backed by six planes and seven helicopters. Meanwhile, Cyprus is battling what officials have branded its worst wildfires 'for 50 years.' Shock moment beachgoers surrounded by smoke as raging wildfires in Italian hols hotspot With temperatures soaring to 44C, dozens of homes have been destroyed in the Troodos mountains. Brit couple Lucy and Ben Armstrong were among those left homeless. Ben told The Sun: 'We lost everything that day, there's nothing left. 'We had fish tanks in the house and there was absolutely nothing left of what was in the water except melted glass on the floor.' Two people were found dead in a burnt-out car as more than 70 houses were reduced to rubble. Meanwhile, in Sardinia, Italy, tourists were sent running for their lives when flames ripped right down to the beach at Punta Molentis on the island's southeast coast. 6 6 Sunbathers abandoned their towels and spades as thick black smoke engulfed the shoreline. The coast guard evacuated 102 people by sea, while helicopters hovered overhead during the dramatic operation. Some 200 cars and a kiosk were torched as the blaze tore through the Sarrabus area — described by local media as a 'jewel' now reduced to cinders. Footage showed burnt-out vehicles after flames ravaged the parking area, leaving many stranded. Fire crews deployed two Canadair firefighting planes, a helicopter, regional aircraft, and even an Italian Air Force vehicle to contain the inferno as winds fanned the flames. 6
