Deadly Wildfires Sweep Through Turkey and Greece: 11 Dead, Dozens Injured

Deadly wildfires have swept through settlements in southeast Turkey, killing 11 people and injuring dozens. In Greece, several villages were evacuated due to similar fires. Authorities are investigating the causes, with high winds and scorching summer temperatures exacerbating the situation.

A devastating nighttime fire, originating from crop stubble, spread rapidly across southeast Turkey, killing 11 individuals and leaving dozens in need of medical treatment, officials reported Friday.

Simultaneously, authorities in neighboring Greece evacuated multiple villages south of Athens and in the southern Peloponnese, battling wildfires fueled by high winds and dry, hot conditions. In Turkey, the blaze erupted between Diyarbakir and Mardin provinces, affecting the villages of Koksalan, Yazcicegi, and Bagacik. Diyarbakir Governor Ali Ihsan Su confirmed the fire was controlled early Friday.

Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca stated 11 fatalities and around 80 injuries, with six in critical condition. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced an investigation into the fire's cause, suspected to be power line sparks igniting crop residue. Hundreds of farm animals also perished, according to HaberTurk.

Meanwhile, firefighters in northwest Turkey's Canakkale province were battling another wildfire near Ayvacik's town. Although no injuries were reported, the village of Camkoy was evacuated as a precaution.

In Greece, wildfires prompted the evacuation of six villages near Anavyssos and the Peloponnese. The greater Athens region maintained top wildfire emergency status due to extreme weather forecasts, enforcing bans on entering forests and parks.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)