Wildfires engulf Turkey, situation on brink of disaster

"Forest fires in Turkey have gotten out of control with the onset of the hot season. Despite the efforts of the army of firefighters, for every localized fire there are 3 new ones. This is because the conditions for the outbreak and rapid spread of fire do not change. Heat of +40, and sometimes even higher, strong winds and lack of precipitation devalue the efforts of fire brigades. Another powerful fire in  Turkey began in the Sarkoy district of Tekirdag province. The fire, which started in a field, quickly spread to forest areas. 

The weather conditions described above make it difficult to extinguish the fire. Numerous animal pens, gardens, agricultural machinery, tractors and lands were damaged. Huge whitish clouds of smoke hung over the province, blocking out the sunlight. 8 people poisoned by smoke were taken to hospital. 3 settlements were evacuated by local authorities due to the threat of fire in residential buildings.

Another large forest fire broke out in the province of Canakkale, in the Ayvacık district. The fire broke out near the village of Naldeken and quickly spread to a large area. According to operational information, the fire threatens nearby areas. Firefighters are working to localize the flames, despite the difficult terrain that makes it difficult to access the fire. Cooling of already extinguished areas is underway to prevent re-ignition. "We have mobilized all available resources to fight the fires. At the moment, the main priority is to protect settlements and people's lives," said a representative of the regional emergency management department." WD