A devastating wildfire in northwestern Turkey claimed the lives of at least 10 emergency personnel on Wednesday as they battled rapidly spreading flames in Eskisehir province. The victims included five forestry officials and five members of the prominent volunteer search-and-rescue group, AKUT.
Turkish Minister of Forestry, Ibrahim Yumakli, confirmed the deaths and said 14 others were injured and receiving treatment at local hospitals. According to him, the fire took a deadly turn after a sudden shift in wind direction trapped the crew in a heavily forested zone.
“The wind suddenly changed direction, causing the flames to shift rapidly and surround the forest workers,” Yumakli stated during a press briefing. “Despite their best efforts, the team was overwhelmed by the intensity and speed of the fire.”
The latest fatalities raise Turkey’s wildfire death toll to 13 so far this year, as the country grapples with increasingly volatile fire conditions. Yumakli noted that persistent heatwaves, severe drought, and gusty winds have created a perfect storm for widespread forest fires.
As of Wednesday evening, firefighting teams were tackling seven active blazes across various provinces. Yumakli issued a nationwide warning, urging all citizens to remain alert. “Starting tomorrow, we are facing extraordinary temperatures and extreme wind shifts. Once again, I call on all 86 million citizens to be vigilant and exercise extra caution,” he said.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan extended his condolences to the families of the deceased, acknowledging their sacrifice in defense of Turkey’s natural heritage. “They gave their lives to protect our forests. Their bravery will never be forgotten,” the president said in a statement posted on social media.
Meanwhile, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced the launch of a formal investigation into the Eskisehir incident, with two prosecutors already assigned to determine the cause and assess any possible lapses in safety procedures.
The country has been in a heightened state of alert since wildfires first broke out on June 26. Earlier this month, three additional lives — two forestry officials and an elderly resident — were lost during a separate blaze in Izmir’s Odemis district.
With conditions expected to worsen in the coming days, Turkish authorities are calling for heightened preparedness and urging the public to avoid activities that could inadvertently spark new fires. The origin of the Eskisehir blaze remains unknown, but officials are not ruling out human error or negligence.
Emergency services continue to work around the clock, deploying helicopters, water tankers, and specialized ground crews to contain the infernos before they spread further into populated areas.
