Firefighters were battling a strong forest fire in Turkey's Aegean city of Izmir for a third day on Saturday, AFP reporters said, with hundreds more people evacuated overnight. In the northern suburb of Ornekkoy, AFP journalists saw the charred remains of several buildings and vehicles in an industrial zone while grey smoke billowed into the sky. "We don't know what to do.
Our workplace is located in the middle of the fire. We have lost our livelihood," said 48-year-old Hanife Erbil, who earns a living collecting paper and plastic waste. The pine trees that once crowned the surrounding hills were also burned.
"It was such a beautiful route, it smelled of pine trees everywhere. It makes me want to cry," said taxi driver Ayhan. A witness who wished to remain anonymous told AFP by telephone that the smell of smoke was hanging over the city, the third most-populated in Turkey.
Firefighters from other Turkish cities have been sent as reinforcements and the army has been mobilised. "Everyone is working hard. I'm on my 36th hour of service.
We can say the fire is partially under control," said Izmir firefighter Arjin Erol. The fire started on Thursday and was quickly spread to residential areas by winds blowing at 50 kilometres (30 miles) an hour. Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said 900 residents in five affected districts were evacuated overnight in Izmir.
The fire damaged 16 buildings and affected 78 people, with 29 of them admitted to hospital, the Turkish health ministr.