Wildfires Force Evacuations in Turkey Amid Record Heatwaves Across Southern Europe

In Turkey, wildfires have led to the evacuation of more than 50,000 individuals across multiple regions, particularly in Izmir where the flames have become most intense. The Turkish forestry minister, Ibrahim Yumakli, attributed the escalation of the fires to powerful winds that have spread the flames in and around Izmir. The local emergency management authority confirmed that a significant portion of those evacuated, about 42,000 people, are from Izmir itself.

The ongoing heatwaves affecting southern Europe have resulted in temperatures rising above 40°C (104°F) in several countries, including Turkey, Italy, France, Spain, and Greece. As a precaution, the British Foreign Office has altered its travel advice for Britons heading to Turkey this summer. Climate change is thought to be a contributing factor to the increasing frequency and severity of such heatwaves, as experts caution that extreme weather events are likely to become more common in this region.

Further south, Greece experienced severe wildfires that necessitated evacuations around Athens, causing considerable damage and prompting a strong firefighting response with numerous personnel and equipment deployed. In Spain, the heat led to alerts and safety guidelines issued by health authorities, while parts of Portugal were placed on high alert due to extreme temperatures expected to reach 42°C (107°F) in Lisbon. In Italy, major cities are taking steps to restrict outdoor activities during peak heat times, while similar conditions are anticipated in France, which is also witnessing wildfires and has issued a record number of heatwave alerts.