Şarköy, Türkiye - July 16, 2025 A forest fire that started around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Senkoy neighborhood of Sarkoy, Tekirdag, has rapidly spread toward neighboring areas. Strong winds reaching speeds of 46 kilometers per hour fueled the flames, pushing the fire into surrounding forests and nearby neighborhoods including Senkoy, Kocali, and Kizilcaterzi. Authorities evacuated residents and livestock as a precaution. Some homes and agricultural equipment suffered damage. A dramatic video shared by X user Furkan Avsali shows the terrifying blaze. He wrote, “Tekirdag Sarkoy is burning, urgent help needed.” Emergency teams responded immediately. The Forestry Directorate deployed six planes, six helicopters, 60 fire trucks, and 350 personnel. Additional support came from the Tekirdag Fire Department, AFAD, and police units from Istanbul, Edirne, and Kirklareli. Firefighters worked through the night to prevent the fire from reaching evacuated neighborhoods. At dawn on the second day, aerial and ground firefighting resumed with 14 planes, 13 helicopters, 114 fire trucks, and 10 heavy machinery units. In total, 684 personnel remain engaged in the operation, including efforts in nearby Canakkale’s Ayvacik area. The fire’s advance toward Gelibolu’s Kavakkoy rural region forced authorities to close the Canakkale-Malkara highway at the Kavakkoy junction due to thick smoke and poor visibility. Canakkale Governor Omer Toraman stated critical infrastructure like gas pipelines and military sites are not threatened. Control lines have been established, and firefighting continues nonstop.