Overnight fires in the woodland surrounding Bursa in northwestern Turkey’s northwestern Turkey spread rapidly, bringing a red glow to the night sky in the eastern suburbs of the city, the Independent reported.
The Bursa Governor’s office said in a statement Sunday that 1,765 people were safely evacuated northeast of the village as more than 1,100 firefighters fought the flames. The highway linking Bursa to the capital Ankara was closed as the surrounding forests were burned.
Turkey has been hit by dozens of wildfires every day since late June. Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yamkuri said firefighters across the country faced 76 separate flames on Saturday.
Fires are fueled by seasonal high temperatures, dry conditions and strong winds.
The weather directorate said Turkey recorded a high of 50.5c (122.9F) in the southeastern Sirnak province on Friday. He added that the highest temperatures in July were seen in 132 other locations.
MA/PR