The wildfire, which began in the Yamanlar Karatepe area, has intensified, leading to the evacuation of three neighborhoods and threatening both residential and industrial zones.

With the arrival of daylight, firefighting aircraft resumed their efforts, while ground teams persisted in combating the blaze under challenging conditions. The fire has already destroyed 16 homes and forced the evacuation of 87 houses and 45 businesses. An animal shelter was also evacuated as the fire spread, with smoke affecting multiple parts of the city, including the Bayrakli and Cigli districts.

Emergency responders, including forest teams, local municipalities, police, Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), and gendarmerie personnel, are collaborating with heavy machinery and specialized equipment to control the fire.

Meanwhile, a separate forest fire continues to burn in the Bozdogan district of the Aegean province of Aydin. The fire in the Alhisar neighborhood has been fought throughout the night with both aerial and ground interventions. On Saturday morning, the number of aerial vehicles involved in the operation increased to eight helicopters and seven planes. Over 300 personnel are actively engaged in the firefighting efforts, utilizing 32 fire trucks, 11 water tankers, and five bulldozers.

Despite difficult terrain and strong winds, the firefighting teams remain determined to bring the fire under control.

In another part of the country, firefighting efforts have continued for 45 hours in response to a forest fire in the northwestern Bolu province. The blaze, which started in a village area of Goynuk district, is being combated with 11 helicopters, 356 vehicles and machines, and 1,213 personnel from Bolu and surrounding provinces. Both aerial and ground teams remain on-site, working tirelessly to control the fire.

The wildfires across western Türkiye have prompted a large-scale emergency response, with hundreds of personnel and equipment deployed to contain the flames and protect affected communities. (ILKHA)