Turkey wildfire near Bodrum still raging as others contained

Hundreds of firefighters were battling strong winds on Friday to control a wildfire in southwestern Turkey, after other wind-fuelled blazes along the Mediterranean coast were largely brought under control.

Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said six fires were still raging on Thursday evening, but by Friday five had been brought largely under control. Authorities remained on alert in case strong winds caused any of them to reignite.

The remaining active fire was in the Cine area, about 100 kilometres inland from the resort city of Bodrum. Firefighters worked through the night, and Anadolu news agency said nine helicopters, three firefighting planes, 42 fire engines and nine water tankers were battling the blaze by morning.

“In Cine, our teams’ interventions from the air and the ground will continue until the fire is completely brought under control,” Yumakli said on X.

Residents described losses to homes, animals, orchards and olive groves. Environment Minister Murat Kurum said 65 structures had sustained severe damage or been destroyed, almost all in the southern Antalya and Mugla regions.

Media reports said the Mugla fire had burned 5,000 hectares of forestland. The European Forest Fire Information System website said Turkey has had 64 fires this year, burning 22,587 hectares of land.