Firefighters Battle Wildfire in Gallipoli Peninsula, Evacuating Over 250 People
Turkish rescuers work to quench blaze on the Dardanelles Strait flanking region, with historical sites temporarily closed.
ISTANBUL: A wildfire raging on the Gallipoli peninsula has led to the evacuation of over 250 residents as Turkish firefighters continue their efforts to control the blaze.
The fire's origin was traced back to Saturday in Canakkale province, near the town of Gelibolu, where high winds fueled its spread across the hillsides.
As a precautionary measure, 251 individuals from five villages were relocated to safer areas, according to Canakkale governor Omer Toraman.
The fire has been visible for miles, with bright flames and thick smoke clouds dominating the night sky.
Historical sites in the region, including ancient Troy and the World War I battleground of Gallipoli, have temporarily closed due to the ongoing forest fire.
Recent weather patterns have contributed to the severity of the situation, despite being relatively normal for this time of year.
North-western Turkiye has experienced strong winds over recent days, although these eased on Sunday.
The firefighting operation involved 900 personnel, including 12 planes and 18 helicopters, as of first light.
Historical sites near Eceabat have been closed to the public due to the fire's proximity.
Another blaze on the opposite side of the Dardanelles Strait resulted in the evacuation of 2,000 people and left around 80 individuals requiring treatment for smoke inhalation.
Earlier, a separate fire led to the evacuation of 120 people and the temporary suspension of shipping through the strategically important waterway linking the Mediterranean, Sea of Marmara, and Black Seas.
According to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), Turkiye has faced 192 wildfires this year, resulting in the destruction of over 110,373 hectares (273,000 acres) of land.
This trend is part of a global pattern where human-induced climate change increases the frequency and intensity of natural disasters such as wildfires.
Authorities have called for urgent action to address this growing concern.
The fire's origin was traced back to Saturday in Canakkale province, near the town of Gelibolu, where high winds fueled its spread across the hillsides.
As a precautionary measure, 251 individuals from five villages were relocated to safer areas, according to Canakkale governor Omer Toraman.
The fire has been visible for miles, with bright flames and thick smoke clouds dominating the night sky.
Historical sites in the region, including ancient Troy and the World War I battleground of Gallipoli, have temporarily closed due to the ongoing forest fire.
Recent weather patterns have contributed to the severity of the situation, despite being relatively normal for this time of year.
North-western Turkiye has experienced strong winds over recent days, although these eased on Sunday.
The firefighting operation involved 900 personnel, including 12 planes and 18 helicopters, as of first light.
Historical sites near Eceabat have been closed to the public due to the fire's proximity.
Another blaze on the opposite side of the Dardanelles Strait resulted in the evacuation of 2,000 people and left around 80 individuals requiring treatment for smoke inhalation.
Earlier, a separate fire led to the evacuation of 120 people and the temporary suspension of shipping through the strategically important waterway linking the Mediterranean, Sea of Marmara, and Black Seas.
According to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), Turkiye has faced 192 wildfires this year, resulting in the destruction of over 110,373 hectares (273,000 acres) of land.
This trend is part of a global pattern where human-induced climate change increases the frequency and intensity of natural disasters such as wildfires.
Authorities have called for urgent action to address this growing concern.
