Latest news with #westernTurkey
New York Times
2 days ago
- Climate
- New York Times
Earthquake Strikes Western Turkey
A 6.1-magnitude earthquake in western Turkey toppled at least one building at its epicenter on Sunday evening, sending shock waves as far as Istanbul, over 120 miles away. Many people in the cities and towns who felt the tremor fled into the streets in panic, and some scrambled to reach their loved ones. With aftershocks continuing to rattle the area, some people were staying outdoors. The authorities warned people to avoid buildings that could be unstable. Officials released varying reports of the number of structures affected, but at least one building had collapsed according to local and national authorities. Four people were rescued from a collapsed building in the town of Sindirgi, the epicenter, Mayor Serkan Sak told Turkish broadcasters. Crews were still working to free another person under the rubble, according to Turkey's emergency agency, AFAD. No deaths were reported, but the health minister said four people were being treated in hospitals for minor injuries. Sindirgi is a small town of about 30,000 people, surrounded by mountains and in a region of forests and plains. Turkey is crisscrossed by major fault lines that often produce strong tremors. In 2023, a 7.8-magnitude quake and its aftershocks killed more than 50,000 people in 11 eastern and southeastern Turkish cities and about 6,000 more in neighboring Syria. Scientists for years have been warning that earthquakes in Turkey could be especially deadly because of shoddy construction and the abundance of old buildings not built to modern standards to withstand disasters.
The Guardian
23-07-2025
- Climate
- The Guardian
Wildfire kills at least 10 forest workers and rescuers battling blaze in Turkey
A wildfire killed at least 10 forest workers and rescuers on Wednesday who were battling to douse the flames near Eskişehir in western Turkey, the authorities said. The agriculture minister, İbrahim Yumakli, said the fire killed five forest workers and five rescuers. Local lawmaker Nebi Hatipoğlu and news website BirGün had earlier said 11 had died. High temperatures and strong winds have fanned the wildfire between Istanbul and the capital Ankara since Tuesday morning, with the spread threatening homes and forcing the evacuation of several villages. The victims were wrongfooted when the flames suddenly changed direction, causing them to be 'burnt alive', according to BirGün. Twenty-four workers were caught in the 'brusque evolution of the flames' of whom 14 were being treated in hospital, Yumakli told broadcasters on Wednesday evening. 'Unfortunately, we have lost five forest workers and five (rescuers),' he added. Hatipoğlu, a deputy from the ruling AKP party, wrote on X there were 'no words to describe our grief'. Turkey has been sweltering since Sunday under temperatures between 6C and 12C above the seasonal norms and several fires have been declared. Scientists have long warned that burning fossil fuels is making extreme weather events such as heatwaves more likely and more intense. Meanwhile firefighters in Cyprus were battling on Wednesday to contain a huge wildfire forcing the evacuation of at least four villages on the first day of a heatwave that sent temperatures soaring. Authorities said the fire was raging in terrain north of the southern city of Limassol, stoked by strong winds and high temperatures. A fire brigade spokesperson said there had been 'considerable damage' to homes in the region, known for its vineyards. The president of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides said he had requested assistance to contain the fire under an EU assistance scheme, while neighbouring Jordan would be sending help. 'The situation is very difficult and the fire front is huge. All forces have been mobilised,' he told reporters at the scene. Authorities said 14 aircraft and workers on the ground were trying to extinguish the blaze, which broke out around midday on Wednesday. The cause of the blaze was not immediately clear. Temperatures on the east Mediterranean island hit 43C (109.4F) inland on Wednesday, forcing authorities to issue an amber weather warning. It was expected to climb further to 44C on Thursday, making it the hottest day of the year. Although heatwaves and forest fires are common, the impact on human life and the damage have become more pronounced in recent years.
The Independent
26-05-2025
- The Independent
Watch: Tour bus crash in Turkey injures almost every passenger
This is the moment a tour bus collided with a coach in western Turkey, injuring nearly every passenger on board. At least 28 people were injured in the crash on Sunday (25 May), according to local authorities. The injured include at least 26 of the 28 passengers on the tour bus and one person from the coach. CCTV footage from inside the tour bus shows passengers being violently flung around the coach as it was hit while entering the main road from a junction. Emergency services attended the scene, and the injured were taken to hospitals in the city.
