Villages evacuated due to wildfire in Turkish western province

At least six villages were evacuated in Türkiye's western province of Çanakkale because of wildfires, the Turkish Agriculture and Forestry Minister said Tuesday.

"Kayadere, Damyeri, Belen, Ulupınar, Yağcılar, and Kalabaklı, these six villages have been evacuated," İbrahim Yumaklı told reporters in Ankara, adding that three other villages were ready for possible evacuations.

"Fortunately, there is no loss of life so far," he said.

The fire, especially in Kepez, is progressing on a tangent to the city center.

Eight planes, 26 helicopters, approximately 180 street sprinklers and construction equipment, and nearly 1,100 personnel are intervening to fight the fire, he added.

The Çanakkale (Dardanelles) Strait was closed to north-south ship passage because of the fire which broke out earlier Tuesday and rapidly spread due to strong winds.

The Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) said four people were affected by smoke and their treatment is ongoing.