At least ten forestry and rescue personnel have tragically died while battling wildfires in Turkey’s central Eskisehir province.
According to a statement on X from Turkey’s Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli, approximately 24 forest workers and volunteer rescuers were “trapped inside the fire” following an abrupt shift in wind direction.
The Minister confirmed the deaths of five forestry workers and five volunteers from the AKUT rescue organization, adding that 14 forest workers have been hospitalized.
Local media reports indicate that the blaze originated in the Seyitgazi district of the province on Tuesday morning and quickly spread to adjacent areas.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his condolences via X, stating, “I pray for God’s mercy on our brothers and sisters who fought at the cost of their lives to protect our forests, and I offer my condolences to their families and our nation.”
Nebi Hatipoglu, the constituency’s representative in parliament, conveyed the community’s “deep grief” over the loss of the “heroic forest workers who were martyred while fighting the flames.”
With temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in recent days, wildfires are currently active across five regions – Sakarya, Bilecik, Eskisehir, İzmir, Karabuk, and Manisa.
This summer has seen hundreds of wildfires erupt across Turkey, necessitating the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents from their homes.
The AKUT Search and Rescue Association is a non-governmental organization providing disaster search and rescue relief.
Spanish authorities estimate that wildfires in the Toledo region have impacted approximately 2,500 hectares (25sq km) of land.
From California to Canada’s east coast, first responders are actively working to contain wildfires both in the air and on the ground.
Landowners and managers have described the recent fires at Dava and Carrbridge as the most severe Scotland has ever experienced.
Video technology is being utilized to enhance incident awareness, enabling operators to plan and respond more efficiently.
Police have indicated that individuals present at the scene, who were also carrying fishing rods, may be able to assist with their inquiries into the incident.