|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Wildfires sweeping through Bursa Province, northwestern Türkiye, have killed 17 people and forced the evacuation of over 1,700 residents, according to government and media reports as of July 28, 2025.
The fires, intensified by record-breaking heat, dry conditions, and strong winds, have scorched more than 7,000 acres of forest land near the Gürsu-Kestel corridor, threatening residential zones and disrupting transport infrastructure. Among the fatalities are volunteer firefighters and forestry workers, including two who died when their water tanker overturned en route to a blaze.
Authorities have deployed nearly 2,000 personnel, supported by aircraft and helicopters, to contain the fires. The Bursa–Ankara highway was temporarily closed due to proximity of flames.
Türkiye’s Forestry Minister confirmed that the country battled 84 separate blazes on July 27 alone, with Bursa among the hardest-hit areas. Legal investigations into suspected arson are underway, with 97 individuals under scrutiny across 33 provinces.
The government has declared disaster zones in İzmir and Bilecik, while international support has been activated through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to assist Türkiye and neighboring countries facing similar wildfire outbreaks.
Turkey Map by NordNordWest
