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A roe deer was seen desperately fleeing the flames during a large-scale forest fire that broke out in Türkiye’s northwestern province of Canakkale.
The fire, which began in the Gelibolu (Gallipoli) district and spread to the neighboring district of Eceabat, has been burning for two days and continues to threaten both nature and historical heritage sites.
The blaze started on Saturday afternoon between Tayfur and Cumali villages in Gelibolu before advancing with the wind toward forested areas in Eceabat.
Firefighting teams from the Canakkale Regional Forestry Directorate are battling the flames from both the air and the ground with planes, helicopters, vehicles, and nearly 900 personnel.
Authorities reported that a wide stretch of woodland has already been damaged. The Gallipoli Peninsula is home to a dense roe deer population, particularly between the villages of Kumkoy and Ilgardere, where one animal was captured on camera running frantically to escape the fire before disappearing into the forest.
Due to the fire’s proximity, the Canakkale Wars Gallipoli Historical Site Directorate announced that access to the northern sector of the battlefield zone—including Batik Gemi (Sunken Ship), Mimoza, the 57th Regiment Memorial, and Conkbayiri (Chunuk Bair)—has been temporarily suspended.
In addition, Bigali Castle, the Bigali Ataturk House, and the Canakkale Epic Promotion Center have been closed to visitors until further notice.
Canakkale Governor Omer Toraman stated that Ilgardere village was evacuated as a precaution, raising the total number of evacuated villages to six.
“So far, the fire has not reached any residential areas. Evacuated residents have been moved to safe zones,” he said.
Earlier, villages in both Gelibolu and Eceabat—including Karainebeyli, Yolagzi, Kumkoy, Buyukanafartalar, and Kucukanafartalar—were also cleared, with more than 250 people relocated.
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