Firefighters are battling a strong forest fire in the Aegean province of İzmir for a third day, Agence France-Presse reported, citing Turkish media and officials on Saturday, with hundreds more people evacuated overnight.
Helicopters and water bombers that were grounded due to strong winds continued their fight against the flames on Saturday morning, NTV news reported.
The fire started Thursday and was quickly spread to residential areas by winds blowing at 50 kilometers (30 miles) an hour.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said that 900 residents in five affected districts were evacuated overnight in İzmir.
A witness told AFP that thick smoke had turned the sky grey, with the smell of smoke hanging over the city, the third most-populated in Turkey.
“Currently, two planes and eleven helicopters are continuing to fight the blaze,” said Agriculture and Forestry Ministry İbrahim Yumaklı, adding that residents of the city should not be worried.
Around 1,600 hectares (3,900 acres) have been affected, the minister said.
Six other fires continue to rage in forested areas in other cities in Turkey, including northwestern Bolu and Aydın in the west.
Scientists say climate change makes extreme weather events including heatwaves more likely, longer lasting and more intense.