Firefighters on Tuesday continued to battle a wildfire in Turkey's Mediterranean coastal province of Antalya, which has forced hundreds of residents from their homes and injured at least two people. The blaze, which began Monday evening in the Aksu district, rapidly spread to the neighboring Kepez district due to strong winds, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency.
Two individuals were hospitalized for leg injuries, while six others received on-site treatment for smoke inhalation. Authorities ordered the evacuation of at least 254 homes in the Aksu and Kepez districts. A highway connecting Antalya to Isparta, situated approximately 130 kilometers north, was temporarily closed.
More than 100 dogs were relocated from an animal shelter in Aksu to safety, as flames and heavy smoke loomed over the area, the Antalya Municipality reported. Video footage captured veterinarians tending to a dog affected by smoke.
Power outages impacted over 2,000 homes in the region, Anadolu Agency stated. The agency also reported that the firefighting effort involved at least five aircraft, 10 helicopters, 110 fire trucks, and 600 personnel. Similar wildfires were also being addressed by firefighters in the nearby provinces of Adana and Mersin.