Turkish authorities have detained 23 individuals linked to 61 forest fires that ravaged various regions of the country between July 4 and 22, 2025, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on X.

Of those detained, four have been remanded in custody, while 19 have been released under judicial supervision, according to the minister.

The wildfires, which have intensified over the past month, have caused significant damage across Türkiye, particularly in the western and southern provinces. The fires have been fueled by extreme heat, strong winds, and low humidity, conditions exacerbated by climate change, according to experts. In Izmir province alone, more than 50,000 people were evacuated as wildfires tore through areas like Seferihisar, Menderes, Kuyucak, and Doganbey, with strong winds of 40–50 km/h pushing flames through forested and residential areas. The fires have also impacted agricultural land, destroyed homes, and led to the temporary closure of Izmir’s Adnan Menderes Airport due to heavy smoke.

According to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), Türkiye has seen 96 wildfires in 2025, scorching over 49,652 hectares (122,700 acres) of land. The most affected areas include Çeşme-Urla (110 km²), Menderes-Seferihisar (100 km²), and Şarköy-Gelibolu (100 km²), with some fires still active, such as the ongoing blaze in Geyve-Osmaneli (77 km²).

Tragically, the fires have claimed at least three lives, including a forestry worker, Ragip Sahin, who succumbed to injuries sustained while battling a blaze in Odemis, Izmir, and an 81-year-old resident who died from smoke inhalation. Emergency crews continue to fight fires in regions like Hatay, bordering Syria, where 920 homes were evacuated in the Dortyol district due to a rapidly intensifying blaze. Türkiye has also sent firefighting aircraft and support vehicles to assist Syria in combating wildfires in the Latakia region.

The Turkish General Directorate of Forestry (OGM) has faced challenges due to a shortage of ground forces, despite sufficient air equipment. Experts have called for better forest management practices, such as thinning and cleaning forests near residential areas, to reduce the risk of treetop fires, which are particularly destructive due to the fire-resistant yet cone-dispersing nature of Turkish pines.

Additionally, nearly 30% of the land burned in 2023 was attributed to energy infrastructure issues, such as faulty power lines, highlighting the need for improved maintenance and regulation.

As of July 23, 2025, firefighting efforts continue across multiple regions, with helicopters, water-dropping aircraft, and over 1,000 personnel deployed to contain the blazes. The government has declared several southern provinces disaster zones, and authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant as high temperatures and strong winds persist, increasing the risk of new fires.

The ongoing wildfires underscore the growing threat of climate change in the Mediterranean, with hotter and drier summers making such disasters more frequent and severe. Türkiye’s response includes not only firefighting but also investigations into potential arson and human-caused fires, as initial findings suggest a combination of electrical faults and intentional ignitions as contributing factors. (ILKHA)