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Wildfires fanned by strong winds spread across western and southern Türkiye on Wednesday, forcing residents out of their homes, prompting the evacuation of hospital units and shutting down major roads as firefighting crews battled several active fronts.
The most serious situation was reported in Mugla's Seydikemer district, where flames moved closer to residential areas and Seydikemer State Hospital. Separate fires were also being tackled in Antalya, Manisa, Balikesir, Yalova and Kutahya.
The fire near Bayir neighborhood in Seydikemer broke out in an agricultural area at around 7:00 a.m. local time (4:00 a.m. GMT) before strong winds carried the flames into nearby woodland.
As the fire rapidly grew, crews were brought in from the air and ground. According to the Mugla Governor's Office, 373 personnel, five aircraft, 12 helicopters and dozens of firefighting and support vehicles were involved in the operation.
Authorities evacuated 43 households and moved 65 residents out of the affected area as a precaution. Several homes were reportedly affected by the flames.
The intensive care and palliative care units at Seydikemer State Hospital were also cleared because the fire had moved to within approximately 2.5 kilometers of the facility. Patients were transferred by ambulance to Fethiye State Hospital.
"The response to the Seydikemer fire is continuing without interruption under the coordination of our governor's office," the governor's office said.
The Fethiye-Antalya highway was shut down as the flames approached the road. Authorities said it would be reopened after the necessary safety work had been carried out.
Another wildfire broke out in a wooded area near Fethiye's Ciftlik neighborhood for an undetermined reason.
Strong winds caused the flames to spread quickly, prompting forestry crews to move into the area. Two aircraft and two helicopters joined numerous ground teams in trying to bring the fire under control.
Firefighters in Antalya's Kas district continued to tackle a wildfire for a second day. Aircraft and helicopters resumed operations at first light, while 155 personnel and dozens of ground vehicles supported the response.
A separate fire broke out at around 1.30 p.m. in the Yazir neighborhood of Kumluca. Winds pushed the flames across a wider area and threatened nearby settlements, leading authorities to send in air and ground crews.
The Kemer-Kumluca road was closed as the firefighting operation continued.
In Manisa's Alasehir district, a fire broke out near the Kemaliye junction on the Izmir-Usak highway and spread through olive groves and scrubland.
Forestry and municipal fire crews worked from the air and ground to stop the flames from reaching a wider area. Officials also launched an investigation into the cause.
In the nearby Kula district, firefighters brought another blaze under control after it burned through approximately 40 hectares of scrubland and agricultural land.
The fire broke out near the Izmir-Ankara D-300 highway late at night and quickly spread because of the wind. Crews prevented it from moving into nearby woodland, although numerous olive trees were damaged. Cooling operations remained underway.
A further fire broke out in woodland and olive groves near Tekcam in Balikesir's Altinoluk neighborhood. The cause was not immediately known.
In Yalova's Armutlu district, three helicopters and 15 firefighting vehicles were deployed after flames broke out in woodland near Kapakli village.
A separate fire was also reported in Kutahya, although no further operational details were provided.
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