The battle against wildfires continues in Turkey, as a new fire erupted on Wednesday (02.07.2025) near Çeşme, a popular tourist destination, following 24 hours of relative calm. Strong winds have once again complicated efforts to contain the blaze. Around midnight local time, İzmir Governor Süleyman Elban warned that ‘the fire has not been brought under control,’ adding that eyewitnesses and on-site technicians believe the fire was undoubtedly caused by a power line.
According to NTV Radio, the fire broke out early yesterday afternoon in an agricultural area and quickly spread due to strong winds into nearby forestland and olive groves. ‘High temperatures and wind are making it difficult to contain the fire,’ explained the radio station, as firefighting teams continued their work through the night.
The highway connecting İzmir, Turkey’s third-largest city, with Çeşme — a popular coastal town located 80 kilometers west — was closed in both directions. In communities threatened by the flames, residents had to evacuate urgently, reported a photojournalist on location for AFP.
No casualties have been reported so far from any source. The municipality of Çeşme announced via X that reception centers and gathering points have been set up for evacuees. Beyond firefighters and civil defense units, volunteer groups and search-and-rescue organizations are also participating in the response, according to officials.
AKUT, Turkey’s oldest and most respected search-and-rescue organization, shared shocking images via X showing hills engulfed in flames and a blood-red sky. Meanwhile, Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Ibrahim Yumaklı attempted to reassure the public during a briefing Tuesday evening, claiming that main hotspots had ‘partially been controlled.’
However, weather forecasts predict ‘extreme heat’ this week, along with ‘intense winds coming largely from the Marmara Sea, Aegean, and Mediterranean regions,’ he warned. Hundreds of fires have broken out across Turkey since last Friday due to a combination of high temperatures, drought, and wind. Some 50,000 people were forced to leave their homes in İzmir and Hatay provinces (in the south), according to Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).