A massive wildfire broke out on the Gallipoli peninsula along the Dardanelles Strait, forcing hundreds of people to leave their homes. Officials said the fire began on Saturday in Turkey’s northwestern province of Canakkale and spread quickly due to strong winds in the hilly areas near Gelibolu.

Residents Evacuated for Safety

Canakkale governor Omer Toraman confirmed on X that “as a precaution, 251 residents from five villages were relocated to safe areas.” Dramatic footage showed thick smoke filling the sky and flames sweeping across the hillsides.

Drought and Strong Winds Made Fire Worse

Toraman noted that the region, famous for the ancient ruins of Troy and the World War I battlefields of Gallipoli, has suffered from “extremely severe drought” over the past year. Although the weather has been normal for the season, powerful winds across northwestern Turkey helped the fire spread before easing on Sunday.

Large-Scale Firefighting Operation

Firefighters battled through the night to contain the flames. Before dawn on Sunday, 12 planes, 18 helicopters, and about 900 personnel joined the effort, according to the forestry directorate. Despite these efforts, authorities had to shut access to war memorial sites near Eceabat “due to the ongoing forest fire.”

Another Fire Adds to the Crisis

On Monday, a separate fire broke out on the opposite side of the Dardanelles Strait. It forced 2,000 people to evacuate, and about 80 were treated for smoke inhalation. Just days earlier, another blaze had displaced 120 people and even halted shipping through the strait, a crucial waterway linking the Mediterranean to the Black Sea.

Rising Number of Wildfires in Turkey

The European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) reported that Turkey has faced 192 wildfires this year alone, destroying more than 110,373 hectares (273,000 acres) of land. Experts say climate change caused by human activity is increasing the frequency and severity of wildfires. They have urged Turkey to take stronger measures to deal with the threat.