Türkiye sends firefighting planes to Syria as wildfires spread on both sides of border

Türkiye sent two firefighting aircraft to Syria on Saturday to help control wildfires as crews battled flames on both sides of the border.

 One person died in western Türkiye during the ongoing fires.

Eleven fire trucks and water support vehicles were also sent to Syria’s northwest Latakia region. Syrian emergency minister Raed Al Saleh said on X that sudden wildfires in Türkiye delayed their arrival by nearly a day.

Türkiye has been fighting wildfires since June 26. Forestry minister Ibrahim Yumakli said firefighters had controlled 10 major fires in western Türkiye, but a forestry worker died from injuries in Izmir province’s Odemis district.

Officials say most fires in Izmir were caused by faulty power lines.

In Hatay province, bordering Syria, emergency crews continued battling a fire near a residential area in Dortyol district. Strong winds made the blaze worse, according to state news agency Anadolu.

About 920 homes were evacuated as a precaution, governor Mustafa Musatli said late Friday.

Interior minister Ali Yerlikaya said 44 suspects have been detained over 65 fires across Türkiye.

Wildfires across Türkiye, Syria, and Greece this week were fuelled by high temperatures, strong winds, and dry weather. In Türkiye, tens of thousands of people have been evacuated and about 200 homes damaged.

Syria’s civil defence warned of unexploded bombs in some wildfire areas from past conflicts.

Summer fires are common in the eastern Mediterranean, but experts say climate change is making conditions worse.

Copied