Extreme heatwave causes wildfires in Türkiye

A second person has died in a wildfire in Türkiye as the country battles a seventh day of blazes across several regions. The latest death is a firefighter who was tackling the flames in western İzmir province on Tuesday.

Earlier an 81 year old bedridden man died in his home in the same area when the inferno reached his house.

Helicopters and planes have been dropping water over mountainous areas while some roads that have been closed according to authorities particularly to the Aegean resort town of Cesme. Broadcasters showed footage of flames lining the main highway as water tankers arrived.

What happened

What began as a battle against nature has turned into a heartbreaking tragedy where two lives have now been lost to the flames.

On Tuesday, Ibrahim Demir, a backhoe operator working alongside firefighting teams in the Ödemiş district, died while trying to help contain the spreading wildfire. His death came as a painful blow to a community already reeling.

Just days earlier, an 81-year-old bedridden man, alone in his home in the same area, became the first victim. The fire reached his house before help could arrive.

Both men, one trying to fight the fire, the other unable to flee, are now part of a growing tragedy that has engulfed lives and landscapes across the region.

İzmir’s mayor, Cemil Tugay, said he was on the ground late Thursday, standing with crews as they fought to control the blaze. Officials said his presence underscored the seriousness of a crisis that has already burned too much, and taken too many.

Wildfire hotspot

Türkiye is part of the eastern Mediterranean region, which climate scientists describe as a “wildfire hotspot”, where rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and dry winds create the perfect storm for fire outbreaks.

Experts say wildfires in the region have become more frequent, longer-lasting, and more destructive in recent years, with climate change acting as an accelerating force.

The ongoing crisis serves as yet another warning that summer heatwaves are intensifying across southern Europe and Türkiye, demanding more strict reduction and response strategies.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that around 200 homes have been damaged or destroyed by the fires in Türkiye’s western regions. Authorities have relocated affected residents to temporary shelters, and humanitarian efforts are underway.

Earlier in the week, up to 50,000 people were evacuated from high-risk zones as temperatures surpassed 40°C (104°F), humidity levels dropped, and strong winds worsened the fire spread.

Residents in affected provinces have left behind homes, farms, and businesses as they await updates on the fire’s containment.

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