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Scottish Sun
29-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Turkey travel chaos as airport shuts down due to raging wildfires ripping through hols hotspot with hundreds evacuated
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TRAVEL chaos has erupted in a Turkish holiday hotspot after raging wildfires blazed across the region and sparked mass evacuations. The terrifying inferno ripped through the tourist resort of Foça, İzmir, before it was fanned by strong winds and tore through neighbourhoods. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 Smoke and flame rise as firefighters continue to extinguish the wildfire in Aliaga district of Izmir Credit: Getty 8 Flames rise from forest area after a wildfire broke out in Seferihisar district Credit: Getty 8 Hundreds were evacuated from their homes Credit: Getty 8 The extinguishing operation involved firefighter on land and in air Credit: Getty Chilling images showed the extent of the fires which ravaged local communities and engulfed forests in 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. Flights have now been suspended at İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport following the raging wildfires. Ongoing extinguishing efforts prevented jets from taking off or landing at the airport as of 4pm local time. Flights scheduled to land at İzmir were reportedly diverted amid the travel mayhem. And hundreds have been left stranded following the major disruption. Brave firefighters spent 22 gruelling hours fighting the vicious blaze across İzmir. The lengthy operation reportedly involved 625 personnel, six helicopters, 46 fire engines, 9 bulldozers, and 13 water supply vehicles. Holiday warning as wildfire is raging at Greek island forcing evacuations Hundreds were evacuated form their houses - with 550 residents forced out of some 175 homes in Ilıpınar, Foça. Four firefighters were also affected by smoke poisoning, two of whom were hospitalised. 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 to exercise extreme caution in the next few days. He said low humidity and high temperatures would aggravate the risk of more fires. 8 Homes were burned to cinders Credit: Getty 8 Cars were torched up in the fires Credit: Getty The governor said: "We expect the next four or five days to be very hot, with strong winds and low humidity. These conditions are perfect for a fire. "Everyone's life is at stake. We must all be extremely cautious." Wildfires were also reported in Sakarya, Bilecik, and Manisa this week. Environment Minister Murat Kurum said in Bilecik, 23 houses and 47 units in 3 villages were destroyed in the forest fires, whilst 41 houses and 25 barns and warehouses were severely damaged. Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı, said: "Nine major fires broke out in İzmir, Denizli, Aydın and Manisa. "The fire in Manisa started again due to wind. "Four villages and two neighbourhoods were evacuated due to the fire." 8 Jets deployed water supplies over blazing regions Credit: Getty
The Irish Sun
29-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Turkey travel chaos as airport shuts down due to raging wildfires ripping through hols hotspot with hundreds evacuated
TRAVEL chaos has erupted in a Turkish holiday hotspot after raging wildfires blazed across the region and sparked mass evacuations. The terrifying inferno ripped through the tourist resort of Foça, İzmir, before it was fanned by strong winds and tore through neighbourhoods. 8 Smoke and flame rise as firefighters continue to extinguish the wildfire in Aliaga district of Izmir Credit: Getty 8 Flames rise from forest area after a wildfire broke out in Seferihisar district Credit: Getty 8 Hundreds were evacuated from their homes Credit: Getty 8 The extinguishing operation involved firefighter on land and in air Credit: Getty Chilling images showed the extent of the fires which ravaged local communities and engulfed 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 Aftermath photos showed scorched cars and buildings while firefighters worked desperately to fight the READ MORE WORLD NEWS Flights have now been suspended at İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport following the raging wildfires. Ongoing extinguishing efforts prevented jets from taking off or landing at the airport as of 4pm local time. Flights scheduled to land at İzmir were reportedly diverted amid the travel mayhem. And hundreds have been left stranded following the major disruption. Most read in The US Sun Brave firefighters spent 22 gruelling hours fighting the vicious blaze across İzmir. The lengthy operation reportedly involved 625 personnel, six helicopters, 46 fire engines, 9 bulldozers, and 13 water supply vehicles. Holiday warning as wildfire is raging at Greek island forcing evacuations Hundreds were evacuated form their houses - with 550 residents forced out of some 175 homes in Ilıpınar, Foça. Four firefighters were also affected by smoke poisoning, two of whom were hospitalised. 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 to exercise extreme caution in the next few days. He said low humidity and high temperatures would aggravate the risk of more fires. 8 Homes were burned to cinders Credit: Getty 8 Cars were torched up in the fires Credit: Getty The governor said: "We expect the next four or five days to be very hot, with strong winds and low humidity. These conditions are perfect for a fire. "Everyone's life is at stake. We must all be extremely cautious." Wildfires were also reported in Sakarya, Bilecik, and Manisa this week. Environment Minister Murat Kurum said in Bilecik, 23 houses and 47 units in 3 villages were destroyed in the forest fires, whilst 41 houses and 25 barns and warehouses were severely damaged. Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı, said: "Nine major fires broke out in İzmir, Denizli, Aydın and Manisa. "The fire in Manisa started again due to wind. "Four villages and two neighbourhoods were evacuated due to the fire." 8 Jets deployed water supplies over blazing regions Credit: Getty 8 The fire grounded multiple flights and diverted several Credit: Getty
Al Etihad
26-04-2025
- Climate
- Al Etihad
Istanbul rocked by 445 aftershocks, people fear bigger quake
26 Apr 2025 20:21 Istanbul (dpa)Istanbul was rocked by hundreds of aftershocks and more are expected in the days ahead, a monitoring centre said on Saturday after the Turkish metropolis was struck by a powerful earthquake earlier in the week. So far, there have been 445 aftershocks according to the Kandilli earthquake monitoring centre. Wednesday's magnitude-6.2 earthquake injured more than 200 people. Damage to more than 6,500 buildings has been reported so far, the Turkish Urban Planning Minister Murat Kurum said on Friday. On Friday evening, an aftershock forced people out of their homes in some of Istanbul's most vulnerable neighbourhoods and some people are still camping outdoors, remaining in the open night and day amid fears of a worse quake, according to reports. By Thursday, more than 100,000 people had taken refuge in emergency shelters, while others left the city, slept in cars or camped outdoors. An active plate boundary runs along the Marmara Sea in front of the city that is home to 16 million, leading forecasters to predict a quake with a magnitude of more than 7 for years. This is now seen as even more likely. Despite this, there are major shortcomings in the city's earthquake preparations. Observers fear a major event could lead to the deaths of tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of people.
Washington Post
24-04-2025
- Climate
- Washington Post
Istanbul residents spend the night outdoors after a strong earthquake and aftershocks
ISTANBUL — Many Istanbul residents spent the night outdoors, too fearful to return to their homes, following a strong earthquake and over 180 aftershocks. The magnitude 6.2 quake tremor that struck Wednesday deeply impacted the city of 16 million residents, leaving many inhabitants shaken and wary of a possible more destructive tremor. There were no reports of serious damage but the temblor, the strongest felt in Istanbul in recent years, prompted widespread panic and scores of injuries. The earthquake had a shallow depth of 10 kilometers (about 6 miles), according to the United States Geological Survey, with its epicenter about 40 kilometers (25 miles) southwest of Istanbul, in the Sea of Marmara. It was felt in several neighboring provinces. At least 236 people were treated for injuries they suffered while trying to jump from buildings or for panic attacks. Most of the injuries were in Istanbul, where residents remain on edge because the city is considered at high risk for a major quake. In fear of a stronger earthquake that could demolish homes, residents sought refuge by sleeping in their cars or setting up tents in parks and other open spaces. Many lit camp fires to keep warm after the temperature dipped. Turkey is crossed by two major fault lines, and earthquakes are frequent. For many, the memory of a devastating earthquake that struck 11 southern and southeastern provinces two years ago, remains vivid. The 7.8-magnitude earthquake on February 6, 2023, claimed more than 53,000 lives and destroyed or damaged hundreds of thousands of buildings. Another 6,000 people were killed in the northern parts of neighboring Syria. The Turkish disaster and emergency management agency, AFAD, said Wednesday's earthquake was followed by 184 aftershocks — seven of them of a magnitude 4 or stronger. Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum stated that authorities had received 378 reports of structural damage in various buildings. At least 12 buildings had been evacuated as a precautionary measure, he said. Only one building — a derelict, long-abandoned structure in the city's historic Fatih district — collapsed. Germany's GFZ seismological research institute said the earthquake was the strongest in the area in over 25 years and extended the fault zone toward Istanbul. The institute said the development presented two possibilities: either the region could experience a temporary decrease in seismic activity, or the stress caused by the earthquake could lead to a more destructive tremor. 'The area beneath the Sea of Marmara south of Istanbul is the only area of the entire plate boundary that hasn't generated a strong earthquake in over 250 years and is therefore overdue for an earthquake with a magnitude of up to 7.4,' the seismology center said.
BreakingNews.ie
24-04-2025
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Istanbul residents spend night outdoors after strong earthquake and aftershocks
Many Istanbul residents spent the night outdoors, too fearful to return to their homes, following a strong earthquake and more than 180 aftershocks. The magnitude 6.2 quake tremor that struck on Wednesday deeply impacted the city of 16 million residents, leaving many inhabitants shaken and wary of a possible more destructive tremor. Advertisement There were no reports of serious damage, but the earthquake, the strongest felt in Istanbul in recent years, prompted widespread panic and scores of injuries. Residents camped in their cars and in open spaces amid fears over further tremors (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra) The earthquake had a shallow depth of 10 kilometres (about six miles), according to the United States Geological Survey, with its epicentre about 40 kilometres (25 miles) southwest of Istanbul, in the Sea of Marmara. It was felt in several neighbouring provinces. At least 236 people were treated for injuries they suffered while trying to jump from buildings or for panic attacks. Most of the injuries were in Istanbul, where residents remain on edge because the city is considered at high risk for a major quake. In fear of a stronger earthquake that could demolish homes, residents sought refuge by sleeping in their cars or setting up tents in parks and other open spaces. Many lit campfires to keep warm after the temperature dipped. Advertisement Turkey is crossed by two major fault lines, and earthquakes are frequent. For many, the memory of a devastating earthquake that struck 11 southern and southeastern provinces two years ago remains vivid. Hundreds of people were injured in the earthquake, either by jumping from heights to escape buildings or injuries sustained in pain,c including panic attacks (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra) The 7.8-magnitude earthquake on February 6 2023, claimed more than 53,000 lives and destroyed or damaged hundreds of thousands of buildings. Another 6,000 people were killed in the northern parts of neighbouring Syria. The Turkish disaster and emergency management agency, AFAD, said Wednesday's earthquake was followed by 184 aftershocks — seven of them of a magnitude four or stronger. Advertisement Environment, urbanisation and climate change minister Murat Kurum stated that authorities had received 378 reports of structural damage in various buildings. At least 12 buildings had been evacuated as a precautionary measure, he said. Only one building — a derelict, long-abandoned structure in the city's historic Fatih district — collapsed. Germany's GFZ seismological research institute said the earthquake was the strongest in the area in more than 25 years and extended the fault zone towards Istanbul. Advertisement The institute said the development presented two possibilities: either the region could experience a temporary decrease in seismic activity, or the stress caused by the earthquake could lead to a more destructive tremor. 'The area beneath the Sea of Marmara south of Istanbul is the only area of the entire plate boundary that hasn't generated a strong earthquake in over 250 years and is therefore overdue for an earthquake with a magnitude of up to 7.4,' the seismology centre said.
