A wind-driven wildfire erupted on the evening of Monday, September 7, in the Aksu district of Turkey's Mediterranean coastal province of Antalya, quickly spreading into the neighboring Kepez district and forcing hundreds of residents to flee their homes as flames pushed toward urban areas.
Authorities evacuated residents from at least 254 homes in Aksu and Kepez, with local reports putting the total number of displaced at 720 people . At least two people were hospitalized with leg injuries, while six others affected by smoke received treatment at the scene. More than 100 dogs were evacuated from an animal shelter in Aksu as heavy smoke blanketed the area.
Firefighting efforts escalated through the night, with aircraft, helicopters and hundreds of personnel deployed. The Antalya–Isparta highway was temporarily closed to traffic as a precaution, and more than 2,000 households lost power amid damage to electrical infrastructure .
The crisis was not confined to Antalya. Crews were also battling fires in the nearby provinces of Adana and Mersin, while in Muğla's Menteşe district a blaze prompted the evacuation of homes and livestock before being largely brought under control.
In Antalya's Serik district, an earlier fire destroyed or damaged five homes and numerous greenhouses before being contained. By Tuesday, officials said the intensity of the remaining blazes had decreased, though aerial and ground operations continued and investigations into the causes were ongoing .
Turkey's Mediterranean and Aegean coasts face wildfire risk each summer, with drought, extreme heat and strong seasonal winds turning pine forests into tinderboxes.
Photo: AI