Wildfire reignites in Sakarya, prompting closure of major highway as Turkey faces multiple blazes

By around 4.30 pm local time, a new blaze broke out in Geyve, prompting the closure of the D-650 highway between Sakarya and Bilecik, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported. The D-650 is one of Turkey’s key north-south routes, stretching from Sakarya to the southern province of Antalya.

The fire is being fought by both aerial and ground crews. Teams from the Regional Forestry Directorate, municipal fire departments, civil search and rescue groups, and local municipalities were dispatched to the scene.

Due to the fire’s location on steep and rugged terrain, helicopters and firefighting aircraft were deployed to assist ground operations.

Authorities evacuated Nuruosmaniye neighborhood as a precaution. “There’s no one left in the homes,” local resident Birol Yıldırım told AA. He said the fire was still spreading and thanked emergency teams for their efforts.

In another incident, residents intervened after flames spread to a grassy area next to a house. Their response, supported by a firefighting helicopter, helped prevent the fire from escalating.

Fires in 15 cities in 19 days

Elsewhere in the country, fires continue in the provinces of Karabük, Antalya, İzmir, Manisa, Denizli, and Eskişehir, with some contained.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that 61 forest fires had broken out in 15 provinces between Jul 4 and 22, and that 23 individuals had been detained in connection with the blazes. (VK)