Turkey: Forest Fires in Bursa – Thousands Evacuated

Firefighters are battling blazes in Turkey, which is experiencing a heatwave. Authorities have been forced to evacuate over 3,600 people from settlements in two provinces.

The fires in the southern provinces of Mersin and Antalya, as well as the central province of Uşak, have been largely brought under control. However, the flames in the northwestern province of Bursa and the northern province of Karabük are still raging, according to the country's Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, İbrahim Yumaklı.

A fire broke out in a forest area between the Gürsu and Kestel districts in Bursa. A section of the highway connecting Istanbul to Izmir was temporarily closed.

Approximately 1,765 people in the Kestel area of Bursa were evacuated from their homes, Yumaklı said, adding that 2,000 firefighters are operating in the area.

In the province of Karabük, 1,839 people were evacuated from their homes. Temperatures in Turkey are expected to exceed 40 degrees Celsius.