New wildfires broke out along Turkey’s Mediterranean coast on Friday (July 25), leading the government to declare two western provinces as disaster zones.
Dramatic television footage showed flames and thick smoke engulfing areas near high-rise apartments in Antalya, a popular holiday destination for both domestic and international tourists.
As the fires spread, authorities evacuated homes in the city centre and the nearby Aksu district, according to the private news agency DHA.
Firefighters fought tirelessly to contain the blazes, but strong winds hampered their efforts, threatening to push the flames further and forcing the closure of a major coastal highway.
Further east along the coast, properties in the city of Manavgat were also under serious threat.
