‘Apocalyptic’ wildfires that have ravaged Turkey for weeks are threatening to engulf the country’s fourth-largest city, and now holidaymakers are wondering if it’s safe to travel there at all.
The deadly blazes, which have killed 14 people, including one firefighter, have forced more than 1,700 to flee their homes.
Overnight fires in the forested region around Busra, in northwest Turkey, have spread rapidly. The highway to the capital, Ankara, has been closed.
Meanwhile, firefighters across Greece and the Balkan countries of Bulgaria and Montenegro have been battling blazes stoked by record temperatures, strong winds and dry conditions.
Orhan Saribal, an opposition member of parliament, described the scenes as ‘an apocalypse’.
Which areas of Turkey have been affected by wildfires?
Sign up to The Getaway newsletter
Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here.
Turkey’s government declared the western provinces of Izmir and Bilecik as disaster areas on Friday.
The northwest of the country is under the greatest threat. In the city of Karabuk, where wildfires have burned since Tuesday, 1,839 people have been evacuated from 18 villages, according to local authorities.
Elsewhere, fires have been raging in Kahramanmaras, in southern Turkey, and across the southwestern Strumyani region.
Wildfires also erupted along Turkey’s Mediterranean coast in the popular holiday destination of Antalya.
Places beyond the affected areas, including key tourist destinations such as Istanbul and Dalaman, are not affected and remain safe to visit.
How hot is it in Turkey?
Turkey recorded its highest temperature ever of 50.5°C in the southeastern Sirnak province on Friday, the General Directorate of Meteorology said.
The extreme heat is forecast to ease gradually this week, with temperatures returning to close to average for many locations.
Thunderstorms have been erupting across central Europe, with flash flooding in Italy and the Balkans, as the mercury drops.
By Tuesday, storms are expected across Romania and the Black Sea and temperatures are due to return to normal for most of Greece and western Turkey.
Is it safe to travel to Turkey and what has the Foreign Office said?
Yes, it is safe to travel to the vast majority of the country.
While the Foreign Office has not advised against travel, it does warn that wildfires happen frequently in summer.
The FCDO warns that you can be fined and imprisoned for lighting a fire of any kind or throwing cigarettes in risk areas such as forests or woodland.
If a fire breaks out in your area, you should call emergency services on 112 and follow the advice of local authorities.
Have flights to Turkey been affected?
As of 9am Monday, 28 June, all departures and arrivals at Ankara’s Esenboga Airport are operating normally.
Check with your airline before travelling to any of the affected regions. It’s always a good idea to subscribe to push notifications to stay up to date with the status of your flight.
