Portugal has sent a special task force to Madeira to assist in fighting a fire that has been burning on the island since Wednesday. The fire in Madeira has led to the evacuation of residents in the area for safety reasons. The Regional Government of Madeira is ensuring that all necessary logistics are in place to allow 80 firefighters to arrive in the region to help combat the blaze. Additionally, around 50 families affected by the fire have received support, including clinical, social, and psychological aid. The firefighting efforts in Madeira are being supported by various agencies and organizations, with 54 operatives on the ground, 18 vehicles, and the use of a helicopter from the Regional Civil Protection Service.
In Turkey, firefighters have been battling five blazes across the country’s west, with more than 131 forest fires erupting in the past week. The authorities have attributed the fires to low humidity, strong winds, high temperatures, and climate change. Despite the challenging conditions, firefighters are working both on land and from the air, with the assistance of numerous aircraft and vehicles. Thousands of people have been evacuated from affected areas, although there have been no reported casualties. Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumaklı stated that while 69 wildfires have been contained, five active blazes remain in various provinces. The General Directorate of Forestry has warned against lighting fires outdoors due to the heightened risk of wildfires across western Turkey.
In response to the fires, four individuals were detained in Bolu province, with two of them arrested and the other two released on probation. The General Directorate of Forestry issued a warning to the public to refrain from lighting fires outside for the next 10 days due to the weather conditions in western Turkey, as there is a 70% greater risk of wildfires. A previous blaze in Canakkale province threatened World War I memorials and graves at the Gallipoli battle site before being extinguished on Friday. The peninsula where Ottoman troops fought off an Allied landing in 1915 was at risk, with images showing soot-blackened gravestones in a scorched garden overlooking the Aegean Sea. Additionally, in June, a fire in southeast Turkey resulted in the loss of 11 lives and left many others in need of medical treatment.
The firefighting efforts in Turkey are ongoing, with authorities working tirelessly to contain and extinguish the remaining blazes. Although the situation is critical, there is no current need for an international appeal for assistance, according to Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumaklı. The authorities are urging caution and vigilance until Sunday, with teams responding to incidents day and night. Despite the challenges posed by the fires, the response from both local and regional governments, as well as emergency services and volunteers, highlights the collaborative efforts being made to combat the wildfires. As the firefighting operations continue, efforts are being made to ensure the safety and well-being of residents in affected areas and to address the underlying factors contributing to the frequency and intensity of wildfires in the region.
