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Wildfires burning across Antalya entered a second day on Tuesday, with crews fighting the flames from the air and ground after strong winds pushed fires through forested areas in Aksu, Kepez and Serik, forcing precautionary evacuations and damaging homes, greenhouses and farmland.
Firefighters worked through the night with water tenders, heavy machinery and other vehicles before aerial operations resumed at first light. At least five aircraft and more than 10 helicopters joined the response, while hundreds of personnel remained deployed across affected districts.
In Serik, five homes were left unusable, while three people were affected by smoke. Numerous plastic greenhouses and agricultural areas were also damaged as the fire spread rapidly under strong winds.
The fire in Aksu broke out near the Karaoz area at around 4:25 p.m. local time and later spread toward the boundaries of Kepez and Dosemealti.
Flames moved across a wide area around Karaoz, Hatipler, Yesilkaraman, Kizilli and Camlica, reaching as far as the Antalya-Isparta highway.
Crews managed to stop the flames from crossing to the other side of the highway after an intensive intervention.
Authorities temporarily closed the Northern Ring Road and part of the Antalya-Isparta highway as a precaution, while the road was reopened under controlled conditions on Tuesday morning.
Residents in Kizilli and Ilica were warned by gendarmerie teams to evacuate their homes as a precaution, while access to the fire zone was restricted. Three neighborhoods were evacuated, along with the Aksu animal shelter.
According to figures provided during the response, 866 personnel, 149 water tenders, seven TOMA water-cannon vehicles, 25 pieces of heavy machinery and dozens of additional vehicles were deployed in the area.
Mobile coordination, communications and aid units were also sent to support operations.
Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Busra Ozdemir said strong winds had made the firefighting effort particularly difficult, adding that crews were working to prevent the fire from spreading farther south.
"We are fighting not only the fire but also the weather, particularly the wind," Ozdemir said, adding that municipal teams and equipment had been mobilized as part of the operation coordinated by Türkiye's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority, or AFAD.
A separate fire broke out at around 11:30 p.m. in several locations around Deniztepesi and Sarabali in Serik, including the Yemislitahta, Haciveliler and Ciftlik areas.
The flames spread quickly because of strong winds, prompting authorities to send firefighting vehicles, water tenders, heavy machinery and additional personnel to the area.
Sarabali neighborhood head Mehmet Emin Ozen said fires had broken out simultaneously at three locations and that multiple public institutions had joined the response.
"Three fires broke out at the same time in our neighborhood. All the authorities provided every kind of support. With the help of all institutions, it has eased somewhat. Hopefully, we will put it out completely," Ozen said.
Gendarmerie teams introduced security measures around high-risk areas while residents were moved away from threatened locations.
Five homes, including one vacant property, were destroyed, while greenhouses and agricultural land were also affected. Three people from one household were exposed to smoke and were taken away from the area by relatives.
Public institutions, municipalities and private companies also supported firefighting efforts with heavy machinery.
Reinforcement teams sent from surrounding provinces continued working alongside local crews on Tuesday as efforts to bring the fires in Aksu and Serik under control carried on for a second day.
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