Raging wildfires along Türkiye’s Mediterranean and western coasts have triggered large-scale evacuations and prompted the government to declare multiple provinces as disaster zones.

The infernos, fanned by strong winds and high temperatures, have ravaged residential areas, forests, and farmland, with authorities now confirming at least 15 fatalities, including 10 volunteers, 3 forestry workers, and 2 elderly residents who succumbed to smoke inhalation while attempting to flee the flames in rural Antalya.

The provinces of İzmir and Bilecik were formally declared disaster areas by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya on Friday, following a month of relentless fires. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan described the situation as “a truly great disaster,” announcing that more than 25,000 emergency personnel are now engaged in firefighting and relief efforts nationwide.

In Antalya’s Alanya district, a fire that broke out Friday afternoon in the Söğüt Plateau rapidly expanded due to gusty winds and dry vegetation. A total of 81 personnel, 28 fire trucks, 5 fire engines, and heavy construction equipment were deployed in the area. In Gazipaşa, flames tore through the Doğanca, Çile, and Gürçam neighborhoods, leading to the complete evacuation of the Karatepe area. Firefighting teams from AFAD, gendarmerie units, the IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation, and local volunteers have been working around the clock to bring the fires under control.

The Antalya Governor’s Office confirmed that 20 firefighting aircraft, 418 land vehicles, and 1,082 personnel are operating across the region. Emergency evacuations were carried out in Aksu, Muratpaşa, and Manavgat, where 412 residents were safely relocated. Authorities reported that the fires in those districts are now largely under control.

A suspect has been arrested in connection with a blaze that erupted in Muratpaşa’s Güzeloba neighborhood. Investigations into the causes of several other fires across the country remain ongoing.

Meanwhile, in Manisa’s Akhisar district, a major fire that began in the Kocakağan neighborhood also spread rapidly. Local firefighting teams, assisted by 19 aircraft, 21 heavy machines, and 346 personnel, managed to bring most of the blaze under control after overnight operations. Some nearby communities were evacuated as a precautionary measure.

The situation remains critical in parts of Adana, Mersin, and İzmir, where new fire outbreaks were reported Saturday morning. Emergency services are on high alert, and regional authorities have urged the public to stay away from fire zones and heed all evacuation orders and safety warnings.

As Türkiye faces one of its worst wildfire seasons in recent memory, concerns are growing about the long-term environmental and economic damage, especially in key agricultural and tourism hubs along the coast. Weather forecasts warn that dry conditions and high temperatures will continue into next week, complicating firefighting efforts and raising fears of new flare-ups.

Officials stressed that public cooperation is critical at this stage, with the Ministry of Forestry warning that unauthorized entry into fire zones is strictly prohibited and punishable under emergency regulations. A national mourning period has not been officially declared, but moments of silence were observed in several towns during Friday prayers in honor of those who lost their lives. (ILKHA)