Over 100 shelter dogs evacuated from Aksu as fire reaches Kepez
The wildfire broke out Monday evening in Antalya’s Aksu district and, fueled by strong winds, quickly spread into neighboring Kepez district, according to Anadolu Agency, Turkey’s state-run news service.
By Tuesday, firefighters were still battling the blaze. The state-run news agency reported that authorities had evacuated residents from at least 254 homes across the two districts.
The fire’s spread into populated areas left multiple people injured. Two were hospitalized with leg injuries, while six others affected by smoke inhalation were treated on site, Anadolu reported.
As flames and heavy smoke threatened the region, authorities temporarily closed the highway connecting Antalya to the city of Isparta, located some 130 kilometers (80 miles) to the north. No reopening time was given in the immediate Anadolu report.
The response extended beyond residential neighborhoods. Antalya Municipality said more than 100 dogs were evacuated from an animal shelter in Aksu and taken to safety, as responders worked to keep the animals out of the fire’s path.
Video footage released by the municipality showed veterinarians treating a dog affected by smoke. The footage provided a visual record of the shelter’s emergency response as the fire moved through the district.
Antalya province lies along Turkey’s southern Mediterranean coast. Aksu and Kepez are adjacent districts within the broader metropolitan area where the evacuation and emergency response unfolded.
Firefighters were still battling the fire as of Tuesday, with Anadolu Agency providing no containment estimate in its initial reporting.