ISTANBUL, July 29 (Xinhua) -- Strong winds fueled multiple forest fires across Türkiye's southwestern provinces of Mugla and Antalya on Wednesday, forcing the evacuation of a state hospital and the closure of major highways.
In Mugla, Seydikemer State Hospital was evacuated after flames threatened nearby residential areas, with all patients safely transferred to other medical facilities, Turkish Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu wrote on social media platform X.
According to local authorities, the fire started in an agricultural area in the Seydikemer district before spreading to forestland. A section of the Fethiye-Antalya highway was subsequently closed as advancing flames and dense smoke spread across the area.
Mugla Governor Idris Akbiyik said on X that 121 homes were evacuated and 202 residents temporarily relocated as a precaution.
Neighboring Antalya province was also battling multiple wildfires. Governor Hulusi Sahin said in a live broadcast that 12 separate fires had broken out across the province, with firefighters having brought 10 under control.
However, the situation remained critical in Kumluca district, where authorities closed the Kumluca-Kemer highway -- a vital route connecting some of Türkiye's most popular holiday resorts -- to traffic, he added.
Before the fires broke out, the General Directorate of Meteorology had issued a regional warning, urging caution over forest fire risks as temperatures approached 40 degrees Celsius, accompanied by strong winds and low humidity. ■
