At least 10 firefighters died and 14 others were injured while battling a wildfire in Turkey’s central Eskisehir province, officials confirmed Wednesday.
The tragedy occurred in Seyitgazi district, where crews had been fighting the flames since Tuesday. Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said 24 firefighters were caught in the blaze after winds suddenly shifted, pushing flames toward them.
“They were above the hill when the fire trapped them,” said firefighter Ercan Temel, who witnessed the incident. “They tried to run uphill but couldn’t escape.”
The injured were rushed to hospitals, but 10 could not be saved. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced a legal investigation into the incident.
Meanwhile, seven wildfires continued to burn across five Turkish provinces, Yumakli added. Authorities are working to contain the blazes amid challenging conditions.
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