Video devastating fires in Turkey. Hundreds of people, emergency evacuated from a province appreciated by tourists
Saturday's fire in the çanakkale tourist province, northwestern Turkey. Credit Line: Sergen Sun / AFP / Profimedia
Over 250 people were evacuated on Saturday night to Sunday in the Çanakkale tourist province, in northwestern Turkey, after the outbreak of a new vegetation fire, authorities announced, AFP, quoted by Agerpres.
The fire started on Saturday and expanded quickly because of the strong winds that beat the hills near the city of Gelibolu, near the very circulated strait of Dardanelles.
“As a precautionary measure, 251 inhabitants of five villages were relocated to safe areas,” wrote the governor of Çanakkale, Omer Toraman.
Images broadcast by television and witnesses on social networks showed hills consumed by intense flames and huge smoke clouds on the night sky.
Gelibolu'Da Orman Bitti. Ülke Gözümüzün Önünde Işgâl Ediliyor. 1 Ayda Yüzlerce Köy, Orman Yok Oldu. Çanakkale'yi Düşman Işgâl Edemedi Ama Lazerli system Iklimla hem çanakkale, hem ülkenin işgaline göz yumauyor. Komple Diye Diye Gerçeği Gizleyip Işgal Srecini Yürüttüler.… pic.twitter.com/ppsxhtz4r
– Ali Osman Önder (@aliosmanonder34) August 16, 2025
12 aircraft and 18 helicopters joined the rescue operations that involved 900 people, said the forest management.
Destination highly appreciated by tourists for the ancient ruins of Troy and for the Gallipoli battlefield, where thousands of soldiers died during the First World War, the province suffered from an “extremely severe drought” last year, the governor recalled.
The access to the historical sites near the city of Eceat was closed “because of the ongoing forest fire,” the management of a local memorial dedicated to the First World War said.
Çanakkale gelibolu yarımada tüm tars alanlarımız yanıyor ve gece hava deesiği sağlanamıyor. Rüzgar Saatte 60 km hızda ve yangın kontrol althena alınamıyor .tarihimizin yok oluşunu syrediyoruz çaresizce. #Canakkaleyaniyor pic.twitter.com/lxnxixm7gd
– Burcu ̇kra (@Forzale_) August 16, 2025
Most of the northwest of Turkey has been affected by violent winds in recent days, even though they have mitigated Sunday.
On August 11, over 2,000 people were evacuated in this province due to a violent fire that devastated homes and poisoned dozens of inhabitants. Turkey, who had the hottest month of July since the beginning of the weather records 55 years ago, has faced several major fires in recent weeks. Fourteen people lost their lives in the fight with fires in July in the west of the country.
Experts say that climate change increases the frequency and intensity of forest fires and other natural disasters and urged Turkey to take measures to remedy this problem.
