At least 10 firefighting and rescue workers died in a wildfire that erupted in Turkey’s central Eskisehir province after a sudden wind shift trapped crews inside the burning forest. The fire broke out early Tuesday in Seyitgazi district and spread rapidly across the dry terrain. A total of 24 people, including forestry workers and volunteers, were surrounded by flames after the wind changed direction unexpectedly, according to a statement by Turkey’s Agriculture Ministry.
Five forestry personnel and five volunteers from the AKUT search and rescue group were confirmed dead. Fourteen others were taken to hospitals with injuries. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed condolences on social media, writing, “I pray for God’s mercy on our brothers and sisters who fought at the cost of their lives to protect our forests, and I offer my condolences to their families and our nation.”
Nebi Hatipoğlu, a regional lawmaker, said the province was mourning the loss. “We are experiencing deep grief over the deaths of heroic forest workers who were martyred while fighting the flames,” he said in a local statement.
The deadly blaze came as Turkey faces a brutal summer, with temperatures exceeding 40°C (104°F) in multiple regions. Wildfires are currently active in six provinces Sakarya, Bilecik, Eskisehir, İzmir, Karabük, and Manisa.
Hundreds of wildfires have scorched large areas of Turkey in recent weeks. Tens of thousands have been forced to flee homes, and firefighting crews remain stretched thin as the fires continue to ignite under extreme heat and dry conditions.
The AKUT Search and Rescue Association confirmed the identities of its fallen volunteers and said their families had been notified. The group is one of the country’s largest volunteer emergency response organizations.
Authorities have not yet released the cause of the Eskisehir fire. Investigations are ongoing.
This tragedy adds to the growing toll of wildfires across the Mediterranean region, as climate conditions fuel more frequent and intense blazes. Emergency services continue to monitor fire activity closely as weather forecasts show no immediate relief from the heat.
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