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Wildfires Threaten Bursa as Evacuations Mount and Arson Probes Expand

Record temperatures with strong winds drove flames toward Bursa’s suburbs, prompting the closure of the Ankara–Bursa highway alongside the evacuation of nearly 1,800 residents.

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Overview

  • Nearly 1,800 people were evacuated from villages northeast of Bursa after fierce blazes closed the Ankara–Bursa highway and advanced toward suburban areas.
  • Thirteen people have been killed in recent weeks, including 10 rescue volunteers who perished in an Eskisehir fire, underscoring the dangers faced by first responders.
  • President Erdoğan reported that some 25,000 personnel, backed by 27 planes, 105 helicopters and 6,000 ground vehicles, are deployed across Turkey to fight the fires.
  • Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunc said prosecutors have launched arson investigations in 33 provinces, with legal action taken against 97 suspects.
  • The General Directorate of Meteorology recorded a national high of 50.5C last week, with extreme heat and drought conditions continuing to fuel fresh outbreaks.