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Ten firefighters were killed and 14 others injured while fighting a rapidly spreading wildfire in Turkey’s central Eskisehir province, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli confirmed Wednesday.
The blaze broke out in the Seyitgazi district during the early hours of the day. Fire crews had been working to bring it under control when a sudden shift in wind direction caused the flames to surge toward the team. According to Yumakli, 24 firefighters were caught in the fire. They were rushed to the hospital, but 10 of them died from their injuries. The remaining 14 are currently receiving medical treatment.
Efforts to block the fire have been continued, with firefighters and emergency response teams dispatched into the region. Yumakli also stated that seven wildfires were still raging in five provinces in central and western Turkey as of Wednesday.
The cause of the fire in Seyitgazi has not yet been confirmed by authorities, although dry conditions during the summer and high winds have left many areas throughout Turkey particularly susceptible to wildfires.
The government has pledged to maintain firefighting operations and assist the victims as well as the families of the dead. The local authorities and emergency response units are still on red alert as fires continue in different regions of the nation.
The Eskisehir tragedy emphasizes the growing danger confronting frontline personnel as wildfires increase in frequency and unpredictability amid climatic influences. Investigations into the fire’s cause and how the events unfolded are ongoing.
Emergency units remain on the lookout in affected areas, with further reinforcements sent to assist in containing those remaining active blazes.
