Multiple wildfires erupted across southern Turkey on Wednesday, forcing hundreds of evacuations and shutting down major highways in the country's tourist-heavy coastal regions.
In Muğla province, a blaze that broke out on 29 July prompted the evacuation of more than 200 people, including patients transferred from a Seydikemer hospital to facilities in Fethiye. Four homes were destroyed and authorities temporarily closed the Fethiye-Seydikemer-Antalya highway due to smoke. Officials deployed five aircraft, 18 helicopters, and more than 800 firefighters to the Muğla fire, which was brought under control within hours.
Five forest fires broke out in Muğla province alone in a single day, with four brought under control. Access to the ancient site of Olympos was also closed. Fires also struck Balıkesir, Antalya, Aydın, Çanakkale, Yalova, and Kütahya, with the Balıkesir blaze prompting the evacuation of 210 homes. Most of the blazes outside Muğla were largely contained.