Izmir Governor announces: 440-unit residential complex evacuated due to fire in Urla

Izmir Governor Süleyman Elban stated that a residential complex in the area was evacuated due to a fire that broke out in a scrubland near the Balıklıova neighborhood of Urla district.

Receiving information from officials regarding the ongoing extinguishing efforts in the region, Elban reported that the fire was caused by sparks from a downed power line in the area.

Stating that the region is predominantly scrubland, Elban said, "The fire spread very rapidly as a result of the weather being very hot and dry, plus the strong winds."

Explaining that teams from the Izmir Regional Directorate of Forestry, AFAD, the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Fire Department, the gendarmerie, the police, and other institutions are on the field to intervene in the fire, Elban continued as follows:

"Although the teams intervened quickly, the fire unfortunately spread to a certain extent. There is a summer residential complex consisting of 440 units in the area; it does not threaten any other settlements outside of this site. All our teams are working intensively to ensure the fire does not reach this site and to prevent any loss of life or property. When we warned our citizens to leave the area without putting themselves at risk, the vast majority of our citizens took our warning into account and left their homes. However, since 34 of our citizens showed resistance to leaving until the last moment, we evacuated them by sea using our Coast Guard boats, as the land route posed a risk."

Elban stated that the fire does not pose a risk to either the residential complex or the settlements in the region.

Explaining that the intervention in the fire in Karşıyaka Yamanlar is continuing, Elban said, "A fire started in our Menderes district around 17:30 in the evening, and it is ongoing. The fires in Tire and Bayındır have been completely brought under control. However, the ones here, in Menderes, and in Yamanlar remain active. However, the energy of the fire in Yamanlar has been reduced. Hopefully, we will give good news in a short time."