Wildfires in Turkey Devour 80,000 Hectares Since the Start of 2025 Amid Warnings of an Unprecedented Season

Turkey is experiencing one of the worst fire seasons in recent years, with flames consuming nearly 80,000 hectares of forests and rural areas since the beginning of 2025, according to recent data from Istanbul University, which warned of ongoing high risks until mid-October.

The university reported that the country has recorded around 6,800 fires since January, distributed across various regions, making 2025 the second most affected year after 2021, which saw over 139,000 hectares burned, with the possibility of rising numbers if the current drought and high temperatures continue in the south.

According to the same source, Turkey has witnessed over 57,000 forest and rural fires in the past decade, destroying approximately 255,000 hectares. In contrast, the burned areas in 2024 were around 28,000 hectares, highlighting a sharp increase in the phenomenon this year.

The university noted that the regions along the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts remain the most at risk, despite a relative drop in temperatures in Istanbul and the northern areas. It also warned that the continuing climatic conditions could make 2025 the most affected year in terms of fire numbers and their spread.

Estimates indicate that human activities account for the majority of these fires, whether due to negligence or misuse of fire sources in daily activities, such as discarding cigarette butts or igniting fires near wooded areas. The causes of about half of the recorded fires remain unknown, prompting experts to emphasize the need to enhance environmental awareness programs and field monitoring.

The ongoing fires since the beginning of the year have resulted in the deaths of 17 people, including ten volunteers and forest workers who lost their lives during firefighting efforts last July, while a drought covers about 60 percent of Turkish territory, increasing the vulnerability of the ecosystem and complicating fire control.