Wildfires erupted across Turkey's coastal Izmir province this weekend, sending residents fleeing and threatening ancient landmarks. Three separate blazes ignited Saturday in Menderes, Selcuk, and Cesme districts – home to world-famous Ephesus ruins 🌍✈️.
Strong winds fueled flames approaching residential areas, forcing full evacuation of Camonu neighborhood. Firefighters deployed helicopters 🚁 and ground teams as flames temporarily shut the Izmir-Cesme highway – a vital route to beach resorts frequented by global travelers.
💨 Emergency crews face race against time: 5 military helicopters joined firefighting ops Sunday. 'Our teams are working tirelessly,' Turkey's Defense Ministry stated on X.
⚠️ Cultural alert: Flames neared Selcuk district's 2,000-year-old Ephesus city – one of the Mediterranean's best-preserved Greco-Roman sites attracting millions annually. No damage reported yet to historic structures.
