17 dead, over 1 700 evacuated as wildfires sweep through Bursa Province, Türkiye

A major wildfire affecting the Gürsu-Kestel corridor near the city of Bursa, Türkiye’s fourth-largest urban center, destroyed an estimated 3 000 ha (7 413 acres) of forest from July 26–28.

The fire, driven by dry conditions and strong winds, triggered large-scale evacuations and severely disrupted transport and response infrastructure in the region.

Authorities reported the evacuation of at least 1 765 residents in Bursa Province alone, with regional totals exceeding 3 500 as of July 28. Major road closures, including sections of the Bursa-Ankara highway, were imposed due to proximity of flames to transportation routes.

At least 17 people have died in wildfire-related incidents since late June across Türkiye, including two volunteer firefighters whose water tanker overturned in Bursa and one firefighter who suffered a heart attack during operations.

Nearly 2 000 personnel, 496 firefighting vehicles, and aerial support units comprising six aircraft and four helicopters, have been deployed to deal with the blaze.

Teams from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), local municipalities, and civilian volunteer groups were involved in containment efforts.

Extreme temperatures have contributed to rapid fire spread. A national temperature record of 50.5 °C (122.9 °F) was recorded in Şırnak during this period. Several provinces, including Bursa, remained under red or purple wildfire risk alerts according to regional meteorological data.

Legal investigations are underway concerning possible arson. The Ministry of Justice announced probes in 33 provinces, with 97 individuals under scrutiny as of July 27. The government has declared disaster zones in İzmir and Bilecik, where earlier fires forced tens of thousands of residents to evacuate.

Local officials stated that certain fire fronts had come within meters of residential zones before being halted by firebreaks and waterline defenses. Damage assessments are ongoing.

International support has been activated through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, with firefighting teams dispatched to both Türkiye and neighboring Greece amid broader regional wildfire outbreake.

Reet Kaur

I’m a science journalist and researcher at The Watchers, contributing to the Epicenter edition, where I cover peer-reviewed scientific research and emerging discoveries across Earth and space sciences. With a background in astronomy and a passion for environmental science, I’ve worked in shark and coral conservation in Fiji, conducting reef and shark-behavior research, contributing to mangrove restoration, and earning PADI Open Water and Coral Reef Certifications. I bring a blend of scientific rigor and storytelling to illuminate the discoveries shaping our planet and beyond.

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