Wildfires Disrupt Travel in İzmir, Turkey, Causing Delays for British Tourists

Firefighters are battling intense blazes near İzmir, a popular tourist destination in Western Turkey. British holidaymakers attempting to return to the UK are experiencing significant travel disruptions. Adnan Menderes Airport, a major hub for tourism, suspended all flights on Sunday evening, June 29, due to a large fire in the vicinity. Images from the scene depict towering flames and thick smoke filling the sky.

On Monday morning, Turkish firefighters are facing a challenging situation as they work to contain the flames that are spreading through several towns. One forest fire has led to the evacuation of at least ten settlements. Authorities suspect the fires were intentionally set, with one individual arrested for arson involving gasoline in the Buca area of İzmir. An additional seventeen suspects have been apprehended in connection with fires across various provinces in the affected region.

On Sunday, a total of 77 separate fires were reported throughout the country, with 53 occurring in forested areas. Some of these fires have been burning for twelve hours and have already caused significant property damage. The strong winds have hampered the use of firefighting aircraft, making it difficult to control the blazes.

At Adnan Menderes Airport, which serves the popular British holiday destination of İzmir, passengers have been severely affected by the wildfires. While flight operations are gradually resuming, many flights have been delayed for several hours, and some have been canceled altogether. Passengers scheduled to fly to Stansted Airport with SunExpress Airlines last night are facing a substantial 21-hour delay. Their flight, originally scheduled for 10:30 pm on Sunday, is now estimated to depart at 7:30 pm on Monday.

Passengers traveling to Amsterdam, with a scheduled departure time of 4:05 pm local time yesterday, will now depart around midday on Monday, experiencing a delay of nearly 20 hours. A flight to Rotterdam is also facing a significant delay of over 19 hours, with a rescheduled departure time of 12 pm today.

Late last night, an airport spokesperson stated that İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport was temporarily closed to air traffic due to the forest fire in İzmir’s Gaziemir district and adverse weather conditions, including strong winds. Some incoming flights were diverted to alternative airports during the closure. Following the NOTAM (notice to airmen), the runway has reopened, and flight operations are gradually returning to normal.

The UK Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for British citizens traveling to Turkey, advising tourists that they may be asked to evacuate their accommodations due to the wildfires. The FCDO stated that wildfires are common in Turkey during the summer and that tourists should follow the directions of local authorities if a wildfire occurs in their area. They also advised calling emergency services on 112 if a wildfire is observed.