Latest news with #SuleymanElban
Times of Oman
a day ago
- Climate
- Times of Oman
Over 50,000 evacuated as Turkiye battles Izmir wildfires for second day
Istanbul: Turkiye continued to fight intense wildfires for a second straight day on Monday in its western province of Izmir, prompting the evacuation of more than 50,000 residents from 41 affected areas, Al Jazeera reported, citing local authorities. As per Al Jazeera, citing Turkish Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli, strong overnight winds, reaching 40-50 km/h (25-30 mph), fuelled the fires in the Kuyucak and Doganbey regions with over 1,000 personnel, along with helicopters, firefighting aircraft, and ground vehicles involved in the firefighting efforts. The Turkish disaster agency AFAD later confirmed on X that more than 50,000 people had been temporarily relocated, mostly from areas near Izmir, a popular resort region. "A total of over 50,000 citizens from 41 settlements have been temporarily relocated to safe areas," AFAD stated on X. Due to the spreading fire, operations at Izmir's Adnan Menderes Airport were suspended, with visuals showing thick smoke, scorched hills, and helicopters dropping water, while residents used tractors equipped with water tanks to combat the flames, as reported by Al Jazeera. Earlier efforts were hampered when high winds grounded helicopters, leaving water-bombing planes and ground crews to contain the fire. The initial blaze started on Sunday between the Seferihisar and Menderes districts. The fire rapidly expanded with wind gusts up to 117 km/h (75 mph), Al Jazeera stated, citing the Governor of Izmir, Suleyman Elban. Another fire erupted at a landfill site in Gaziemir, just 13 km (8 miles) from central Izmir, spreading into nearby forest areas and threatening the Otokent industrial zone, where multiple car dealerships are located, as reported by Al Jazeera. Turkiye's coastal areas have also experienced increasing wildfire threats in recent years due to hotter, drier summers, conditions scientists attribute to climate change. The same region in Izmir suffered a major wildfire just last year.
Yahoo
2 days 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.
Al Jazeera
2 days ago
- Climate
- Al Jazeera
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. Elsewhere 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.
