Minister: Türkiye plans to bring major wildfires under control soon

Turkish authorities expect to bring several major wildfires under control in the coming hours, including a large blaze in the western province of Bursa, where nearly 1,800 residents were evacuated on Saturday, Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Ibrahim Yumakli said, Report informs via TRT Haber.

The country has been experiencing extreme heat in recent days, with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius. The scorching weather has triggered a series of wildfires across southern regions, including the provinces of Antalya and Mersin.

"On Saturday alone, we battled 84 fires, 36 of which occurred in forested areas. Five major fires in four provinces have been brought under control. We expect good news from Bursa in the coming hours," Yumakli stated.

He also warned that the southern regions of the Sea of Marmara and the northern parts of the Aegean and Black Sea coasts are at high risk of wildfires. "We have deployed all available resources to those areas," the minister added, noting that wildfire season in Türkiye is expected to last until October.

According to the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), the country has mobilized nearly 120 aircraft, more than 1,500 ground vehicles, and almost 5,500 personnel to combat the fires nationwide.