Shocking video captured the moment wildfire flames tore through a popular holiday destination, where over 800 firefighters are battling the massive blaze.
Tourists in the Alanya district of Antalya, Turkey, had to evacuate their hotels due to the infernos. Startling videos shared on social media showed intense fires sweeping through forested areas close to a restaurant and potentially a holiday resort, with onlookers recording the scene on their phones in disbelief.
The wildfire began in the Kundu area near Antalya on a Saturday evening, affecting a cluster of hotels favored by tourists. The fire was then carried by strong winds into the neighboring Mugla and Aydin regions, as confirmed by local firefighters, prompting a significant emergency response to contain the flames.
The firefighting effort involved over 800 firefighters, 20 helicopters, and 14 other aircraft to combat the alarming wildfires.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan acknowledged the “tremendous disaster” his country faced as more than 25,000 individuals participated in the emergency response.
According to Alanya Deputy Mayor Murat Levent Koçak, the fire spread rapidly driven by strong winds, with warnings issued that the flames were approaching populated areas. He reassured residents that emergency services were swiftly working to extinguish the blaze.
Throughout this summer, devastating wildfires have ravaged Turkey, leading to the evacuation of numerous tourists and locals. In July, over 1,500 people were forced to flee Bursa, a popular tourist spot, as the area was surrounded by flames.
The Bursa governor’s office reported the safe evacuation of 1,765 individuals from villages to the northeast, with more than 1,100 firefighters combating the fires. The highway connecting Bursa to Ankara was closed due to the burning forests.
Since June, dozens of severe wildfires have plagued Turkey each summer, with the fires fueled by unseasonably high temperatures, dry weather, and strong winds.
Similarly, neighboring countries like Greece and Bulgaria have also grappled with devastating wildfires this season. In July, over 50 wildfires erupted in Athens, prompting evacuations, while Bulgaria sought assistance from EU partners as fires blazed along its southern borders with Greece and Turkey, as well as the western Serbian frontier.
