Major wildfire near Çeşme, İzmir Province, Turkey leaves at least 2 dead
A massive wildfire that ignited near Çeşme, İzmir Province, Turkey, on July 2, 2025, burned over 10 500 ha (26 000 acres) before being brought under control on July 4, following strong winds and record heat that complicated firefighting operations. At least 2 fatalities have been reported, with multiple wildfires across the region now contained.
A firefighter battling a wildfire in Turkey on July 4, 2025. Credit: Orman Genel Müdürlüğü
A major wildfire broke out near the coastal district of Çeşme in İzmir Province, western Turkey, at 16:30 local time (LT) on July 2. The fire, which initially started due to a faulty power line, rapidly spread across shrubland, olive groves, and rural settlements as sustained wind gusts reached 85 km/h (53 mph).
By the evening of July 2, the wildfire had entered residential areas, prompting the evacuation of at least three neighborhoods in Çeşme, as well as additional evacuations in neighboring districts including Seferihisar, Menderes, Ödemiş, and Buca. A total of over 50 000 residents were evacuated across İzmir Province as a precaution, and more than 200 homes were damaged or destroyed.
The fires caused at least two fatalities, an 81-year-old resident in Ödemiş and a forestry worker. Infrastructure impacts included the temporary closure of major roads, disruption at Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport, and damage to power and communications lines.
Alevlerle değil, rüzgarla da savaşıyoruz.
— Orman Genel Müdürlüğü (@OGMgovtr) July 2, 2025
İzmir’de sadece yangınla değil, saatte 60 km’ye varan rüzgârla da mücadele ediyoruz. Alevleri körükleyen her esinti, görevimizi daha da zorlaştırıyor.
Ancak yılmıyor, #YeşilVatan için gece gündüz demeden çalışıyoruz. pic.twitter.com/u7L05N3niN
Efforts to contain the fire were hampered by strong, shifting winds and extreme temperatures, with daily highs reaching 34°C (93°F). The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry deployed 9 fixed-wing aircraft, 22 helicopters, and 1 100 fire trucks and support vehicles.
In total, 3 044 wildfires have been recorded nationwide since the start of 2025. Around 624 wildfires ignited in the last week, along of which 621 have been brought under control of July 4.
Satellite analysis from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) and ground assessments indicated that the main fire near Çeşme burned approximately 10 500 ha (26 000 acres), with the broader affected area across western İzmir reaching up to 19 000 ha (47 000 acres) at the peak of the crisis.
İzmir / #Çeşme – #Ödemiş#OrmanınKahramanları aralıksız olarak yangınlara müdahale ediyor. Sabahın ilk ışıklarıyla birlikte hava unsurlarımız da mücadeleye katıldı.#YeşilVatan için son alev sönene kadar mücadelemiz devam edecek. pic.twitter.com/8CpWrqfNgl
— Orman Genel Müdürlüğü (@OGMgovtr) July 3, 2025
Orman kahramanlarımızın gece boyu süren yoğun mücadelesi ve sabahın ilk ışıklarıyla başlayan hava müdahalemiz sonucu İzmir Çeşme’de yangın KONTROL ALTINA ALINMIŞTIR.
— İbrahim Yumaklı (@ibrahimyumakli) July 4, 2025
Ödemiş ve Buca’daki yangınları kontrol altına almak için hava ve karadan yoğun mücadelemiz sürüyor.… pic.twitter.com/vWQVFGt0Pt
Some of the most significant fire expansion occurred during the night of July 2–3, when wind gusts accelerated and containment lines were breached.
On the morning of July 4, authorities announced that the Çeşme wildfire was brought under control, following extensive overnight aerial water drops and the stabilization of local wind conditions. However, additional wildfires continued in Ödemiş and Buca districts, and authorities warned of continued risk due to ongoing heat and strong winds forecast for the next 24 hours.
Şiddetli rüzgâr, #İzmir'de yangınla mücadeleyi zorlaştırıyor. #OrmanınKahramanları rüzgârla atlama yaparak ilerleyen alevlerin arasında büyük bir fedakârlıkla yangınla savaşıyor. #YeşilVatan için gayretle, kararlılıkla mücadeleye devam. pic.twitter.com/5D2qEnRNgl
— Orman Genel Müdürlüğü (@OGMgovtr) July 2, 2025
Reet is a science journalist and researcher with a keen focus on extreme weather, space phenomena, and climate-related issues. With a strong foundation in astronomy and a history of environmental activism, she approaches every story with a sharp scientific lens and a deep sense of purpose. Driven by a lifelong love for writing, and a curiosity about the universe, Reet brings urgency and insight to some of the most important scientific developments of our time.
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