Latest news with #Kuyucak
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Is it safe to travel to Turkey? Your rights as wildfires cause flight cancellations
A major Turkish airport was forced to temporarily close after wildfires raged in the region, causing dozens of flights to be cancelled, with a knock-on effect continuing to delay journeys Monday. Flights were grounded to and from Adnan Menderes Airport on Sunday, which serves the city of Izmir, a popular tourist destination known for its Mediterranean coastline and historical attractions. Flights slowly started to resume late in the evening, but journeys continue to be delayed in and out of the busy airport. Clouds of smoke have filled the sky over Izmir, along with an orange hue from the flames. Firefighters continued to battle the wildfires for a second day on Monday as the blaze was fanned by strong winds, using helicopters, water trailers and other vehicles to try to extinguish the flames. The wildfires come after concerns have risen surrounding the safety of travel to countries neighbouring Israel and Iran, such as popular holiday hotspots like Turkey, as tensions escalated in the Middle East. A ceasefire deal has now been struck between the two countries at the proposal of US President Donald Trump. The Foreign Office (FCDO) considers Turkey's main tourist areas generally safe to travel to. Here's the latest travel advice for Turkey, plus all the key questions and answers. Where are the wildfires? The wildfires sprang up in the Kuyucak and Doganbey areas of Izmir, as they were fanned overnight by winds reaching 40-50 kph (25-30 mph). Four villages and two neighbourhoods had been evacuated, Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said. Are Turkey flights continuing? Arrivals were operating as normal until early afternoon on Sunday, as flights started to be diverted to other Turkish airports such as Dalaman, Bodrum, Antalya, Denizli and Edrimit, with others cancelled or landing hours after they were due. Departures from the airport also experienced mass cancellations by Monday afternoon, with others significantly delayed. By Monday morning, flights started to operate as normal, but a few cancellations and delays have persisted. An airport spokesperson said on Sunday: 'Due to the forest fire in İzmir's Gaziemir district and adverse weather conditions, including strong winds, İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport was temporarily closed to air traffic as of 16:00 local time. 'Some incoming flights were diverted to alternate airports during the closure. Following the NOTAM [meaning notice to airmen], the runway has reopened and the first flight, PC 1864 to Ercan, has successfully departed at 21:50 local time. Flight operations are gradually returning to normal.' What are my passenger rights? As a passenger, you are covered by UK law if you are departing from an airport in the UK on any airline, arriving at an airport in the UK on an EU or UK airline, or arriving at an airport in the EU on a UK airline. Airlines must provide care and assistance if your flight is cancelled, meaning they must supply you with food and drink (often provided in the form of vouchers), means for you to communicate (often by refunding call costs), accommodation if you are given a new flight the following day, and transport to and from the accommodation or your home. The airline must provide you with these items until it is able to fly you to your destination, no matter how long the delay lasts or what has caused it, the Civil Aviation Authority says. Sometimes airlines are unable to arrange care and assistance if they are stretched during major disruptions, meaning you can arrange the care yourself and claim the cost back later by keeping receipts. If your cancelled flight is covered by UK law, passengers can choose between getting an alternative flight or receiving a refund if their flight is cancelled. If you received less than 14 days' notice of a cancellation, you may also be able to claim compensation. However, this is unlikely if the cancellation was not the airline's fault. Situations such as extreme weather, strikes or other 'extraordinary circumstances' are not eligible for compensation. What if I have booked a package holiday to Turkey? The Foreign Office has not issued new advice warning against travel to Turkey, so the conditions for cancelling your trip will depend on your holiday provider – it's best to contact them if you're looking to postpone. There is no obligation for companies to refund bookings if you wish to cancel due to safety concerns and you cannot claim travel insurance unless the Foreign Office advice changes. What does the Foreign Office say? The Foreign Office has not issued any travel advice regarding the wildfires as of Monday morning. Tourist resorts and cities in Turkey, including Antalya, Bodrum and Cappadocia, are generally considered safe to travel to. However, the FCDO advises against all travel to within 10km of Turkey's border with Syria due to 'fighting and a heightened risk of terrorism'. It adds: 'Due to the ongoing conflict in Syria, roads in Hatay Province leading towards the border may be closed at short notice.' Outside of this area, travellers are warned to remain aware of their surroundings as 'terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Turkey'. The Foreign Office says that regional events in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories have 'led to heightened tensions' across Turkey. Tourists should avoid 'all demonstrations' connected to the conflict in major cities – particularly Israeli diplomatic missions in Ankara and Istanbul. To go to the Hakkari province in the south east, travellers require permission from the local Governor's Office to 'visit areas near the border with Iraq and Iran'. If travelling to Mount Ararat, in Ağrı Province, which is a special military zone, you must have permission from the Doğubayazıt government office and pay a fee.
The Sun
a day ago
- Climate
- The Sun
Turkey wildfire map shows horror blazes near Brit holiday hotspots as 50k evacuated & bleak forecast spells more misery
A MAP shows where more than 50,000 have been forced to evacuate as a wildfire blazes near top British holiday destinations in Turkey. Firefighters are continuing to battle the raging blazes in three key areas as strong winds are expected to whip flames further afield. 9 9 9 9 Wildfires erupted in tourist hotspot areas Kuyucak and Doganbey fanned overnight by winds which reached 25-30mph. Four villages and two neighbourhoods were forced to evacuate, Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said. And while those in Sakarya and Manisa are now largely under control, Izmir remains a hotspot for the flames. "More than 50,000 evacuated in Turkey amid raging wildfires," a disaster agency has said. Harrowing images posted by Turkey's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry shows firefighters working tirelessly through the night to extinguish flames. Planes were seen dumping large supplies of water over fiery infernos in order to combat the blazes. And local residents watched in horror as their homes were torched up and forestry continued to burn. Aftermath photos showed scorched cars and buildings while firefighters worked desperately to fight the flames. Foreign Minister Yumakli said: "Our heroes continue their relentless struggle against the flames under the toughest conditions, day and night, with all their might." Some 122 fire engines, 74 water tankers and 84 heavy machines have been deployed alongside more than a thousand people who are desperately working to extinguish the flames, Yumakli added. Three residents reportedly suffered from smoke inhalation but no fatalities were reported. Turkey travel chaos as airport shuts down due to raging wildfires ripping through hols hotspot with hundreds evacuated Shocking footage shows teams using tractors with water trailers and helicopters carrying water while smoke billows over hills marked with charred trees. Adnan Menderes Airport was forced to temporarily close due to the raging wildfires, with some incoming planes forced to divert to other airports. Extinguishing efforts prevented jets from taking off or landing at the airport on Sunday. Flights scheduled to land at Adnan, which serves the popular holiday hotspot Izmir, were reportedly diverted amid the travel mayhem - with services only just returning to normal. And hundreds were left stranded following the major disruption. Turkey travel chaos as airport shuts down due to raging wildfires ripping through hols hotspot with hundreds evacuated According to the airport's website, flights scheduled to depart on Sunday night will finally be taking off today - but disruptions and cancellations have already been announced. One flight headed for London Stansted has endured a 20-hour delay, with other flights to European cities cancelled completely. Turkey 's Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said that 17 suspects linked to fires between June 26 and 28 had been detained. But one suspect, a beekeeper according to local media, has been held for allegedly starting a fire with gasoline and is facing charges of "intentionally causing a forest fire," the Minister added. Wildfires were also reported in Kahramanmaraş, Bursa, Sakarya, Bilecik, Gaziantep, Bolu and Manisa this week. 9 9 9 The exact cause of the fire is currently unknown. But preliminary findings suggest the inferno may have been caused by a high-voltage power line. The governor of the province, Süleyman Elban, cautioned the population yesterday to exercise extreme caution in the next few days. He said low humidity and high temperatures would aggravate the risk of more fires. He said low humidity and high temperatures would aggravate the risk of more fires. Temperatures in Izmir are expected to soar to 36C later today, and could even reach 40C later on in the week. 9 9
Yahoo
a day ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Turkiye battles wildfires in Izmir for second day, evacuates areas
Turkiye has evacuated four villages and two neighbourhoods in its western province of Izmir as firefighters battle wildfires for the second day, according to local authorities. Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said on Monday that the blaze was fanned overnight by winds reaching 40-50kmph (25-30mph) in Kuyucak and Doganbey areas of Izmir. Helicopters, fire-extinguishing aircraft and other vehicles, and more than 1,000 people were trying to extinguish the fires, Yumakli told reporters in Izmir. Operations at Izmir Adnan Menderes airport were suspended due to the fire, Turkish media reported. Media footage showed teams using tractors with water trailers and helicopters carrying water, as smoke billowed over hills marked with charred trees. Earlier, strong winds grounded the helicopters, leaving two water-bombing aircraft and a large ground crew struggling to battle the flames. The first fire broke out on Sunday between the districts of Seferihisar and Menderes in Izmir, spreading swiftly due to winds of up to 117kmph (75mph), according to Governor Suleyman Elban. Five neighbourhoods in Seferihisar have been evacuated as the fire approaches residential areas, the governor added. Residents in the village of Urkmez were forced to cut trees to create firebreaks and protect their homes, a witness told the AFP news agency over the phone. A separate blaze ignited at a landfill in Gaziemir, 13km (8 miles) from central Izmir, spreading to nearby woodland and threatening the Otokent industrial zone, home to several car dealerships. One dealership was seen ablaze in footage broadcast by Turkish channel NTV. Turkiye's coastal regions have in recent years been ravaged by wildfires, as summers have become hotter and drier, which scientists relate to climate change. Last year, the same area in Izmir was also hit by a massive wildfire. Across Southern Europe, firefighters were also mobilised as people sought shelter from the punishing temperatures of a heatwave that is set to intensify in the coming days. In France, wildfires broke out in the Corbieres area of Aude in the southwest, where temperatures topped 40C (104F), forcing the evacuation of a campsite and abbey as a precaution. Last week, Greek firefighters had to battle a forest blaze on the coast south of Athens that forced some evacuations. Several areas in the southern half of Portugal, including Lisbon, were also under a red warning until Monday night, said the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Firefighters in Turkey battle to contain wildfires for second day
ISTANBUL (Reuters) -Firefighters in Turkey are battling wildfires for a second day raging in the western province of Izmir fanned by strong winds, the forestry minister and local media said on Monday Wildfires in Kuyucak and Doganbey areas of Izmir were fanned overnight by winds reaching 40-50 kph (25-30 mph) and four villages and two neighbourhoods had been evacuated, Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said. Helicopters, fire extinguishing aircrafts and other vehicles, and more than a thousand people were trying to extinguish the fires, Yumakli told reporters in Izmir. Media footage showed teams using tractors with water trailers and helicopters carrying water, as smoke billowed over hills marked with charred trees. Turkey's coastal regions have in recent years been ravaged by wildfires, as summers have become hotter and drier, which scientists relate to climate change.
Al Jazeera
a day ago
- Climate
- Al Jazeera
Photos: Wildfires fanned by strong winds scorch Turkiye's Izmir
Published On 30 Jun 2025 30 Jun 2025 Firefighters are battling wildfires for the second day in Turkiye's western province of Izmir, according to local authorities and media reports. The blaze in Kuyucak and Doganbey areas of Izmir was fanned overnight by winds reaching 40-50kmph (25-30mph), and four villages and two neighbourhoods had been evacuated, Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said on Monday. Helicopters, fire-extinguishing aircraft and other vehicles, and more than 1,000 people were trying to extinguish the fires, he told reporters in Izmir. Turkiye's coastal regions have been ravaged by wildfires in recent years as summers have become hotter and drier, which scientists relate to climate change.
