At least 11 people have lost their lives, and dozens more have been injured as wildfires tore through several villages in southeastern Turkey. The tragic incident occurred mainly in the Kurdish region, between the cities of Diyarbakir and Mardin.

The Blaze and Its Impact The fire, which began with the burning of crop stubble, quickly spread due to strong winds. It engulfed the villages of Koksalan, Yazcicegi, and Bagacik, leaving devastation in its wake. Social media images captured the massive blaze illuminating the night sky, with thick smoke billowing into the air.

Emergency Response Emergency teams and ambulances rushed to the scene, working tirelessly to control the inferno. By Friday, firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control, but not before it claimed lives and caused significant damage.

Criticism and Investigation The pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) criticised the government’s intervention as “late and insufficient.” During the night, they urged authorities to deploy water bombers, emphasising that ground efforts alone were inadequate. The public prosecutor’s office has initiated an investigation into the fire’s cause, according to Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc.

Additional Wildfires In northwestern Turkey, near the town of Ayvacik in Canakkale province, firefighters battled another wildfire. Although no injuries were reported, authorities evacuated the small village of Camkoy as a precaution. This incident is part of a series of wildfires that have erupted in Canakkale province over the past week, fueled by high winds and scorching summer temperatures.

Turkey’s Wildfire Toll Turkey has experienced a total of 74 wildfires this year, devastating approximately 12,910 hectares (31,900 acres) of land, as reported by the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS).