Wildfires Threaten Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria Forcing Thousands Evacuations

Turkey's fourth-largest city, Bursa, is under severe threat from wildfires that have raged for weeks, forcing the evacuation of over 3,500 people and causing the death of a firefighter. The fires, fueled by record-breaking temperatures, drought, and strong winds, have scorched approximately 3,000 hectares of forest and farmland, with the government declaring disaster zones in western provinces including Izmir and Bilecik. Firefighting efforts involve thousands of personnel battling dozens of blazes across the country, particularly concentrated in the northwest and provinces like Karabuk. The situation has been described as an "apocalypse" by local officials, highlighting the scale of devastation as charred landscapes replace once-verdant areas. Neighboring countries such as Greece and Bulgaria are also combating similar wildfires driven by extreme heat and dry conditions. Despite some relief from diminished winds, the fires continue to pose a grave threat amid ongoing extreme weather conditions in the region.