site.btaTurkish Authorities Declare State of Emergency in Izmir and Bilecik

Turkish authorities have declared a state of emergency in the province of Izmir, situated on the Aegean coast, and the city of Bilecik, Eskisehir Province, in the northwest of Turkiye, due to fires that have burned decares of forest and caused damage to people’s property and farms, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on his Facebook page.

Due to the danger to the population and the need for evacuation, 85 trailer homes will be provided and deployed in the two areas. 

Turkiye's interior minister announced that 1,191 personnel from the Provincial Directorate of the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) and 198 rescue vehicles were involved in extinguishing the fires between July 24 and 27, 2025. 

So far, the fires have caused damage in nine provinces. A total of 311 residential buildings, 16 office buildings and work premises, and 50 barns have been affected. A total of 1,157 buildings are to be inspected. The fires have killed 49 cows, 37 sheep and goats, 171 birds, and destroyed 4,175 beehives.

To cover the losses and meet current needs, the Turkish government has allocated aid amounting to TRY 128.4 million, equivalent to EUR 2.7 million. Aid has been paid to 396 families in seven provinces.

After the Gendarmerie General Command established people’s involvement in causing fires between May 1 and July 24, 25 were arrested, and another 47 are subject to judicial control. At that time 184 forest fires broke out in 34 provinces.