More than 1,000 personnel, 4 aircraft, 14 helicopters, and 106 fire trucks are active to extinguish the fire.
A forest fire has raged out of control in Turkey’s western province of Izmir, prompting the evacuation of more than 50,000 people.
The most intense fire broke out in the forested area of Seferihisar on Sunday, according to the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (AFAD), which is responsible for managing natural disasters.
42,300 people were evacuated from Seferihisar alone, while TV footage showed the forest fire burning down several houses. In some areas, only walls remained.
According to Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumkılı, more than 1,000 personnel, four planes, 14 helicopters, and 106 fire trucks are working to put out the fires.
Officials said that 263 fires have broken out so far, of which 259 have been brought under control, while operations are ongoing in the remaining four.
A man has also been arrested on charges of deliberately setting fires with petrol.
Izmir Airport, which was temporarily closed, has now reopened for flights.
More than 19,000 hectares of land have been affected by fires in Turkey so far this year, according to the European agency EFFIS.
Experts have warned that such incidents are increasing due to climate change and human factors, which Turkey needs to take serious measures against.
