A scorching wave of wildfires has claimed at least 12 lives across Turkey and Cyprus, prompting the UK Foreign Office to issue a warning to travelers. Among the dead are two people who were burned alive on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, a popular destination for British holidaymakers.
Blazing Temperatures and Mass Evacuations
Temperatures soared to 43°C this week in Cyprus, turning dry forested areas into tinderboxes. Authorities in Limassol and Paphos districts scrambled to evacuate over 100 residents and tourists as flames ripped through hillsides and olive groves.
In several areas, the fires came terrifyingly close to residential zones and resorts. Locals were seen using garden hoses and buckets to battle encroaching flames until firefighters arrived.
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Many flights into the island were delayed due to heavy smoke.
The Foreign Office issued updated travel guidance late Wednesday night, urging Britons already in the region to follow local instructions and be prepared to evacuate at short notice. Travelers planning to visit were told to monitor the situation closely and consult tour operators.
Ten Killed in Turkey as Forest Inferno Spreads
In Turkey, the situation has been even more tragic. Ten people died in the province of Eskişehir, including five forest workers and five members of the search and rescue team AKUT.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed the nation with a somber tone on Thursday. “I have learned with great sorrow that five forest workers and five AKUT volunteers were martyred in the Eskişehir fire,” he said.
Emergency crews continue to fight multiple blazes across western and southern Turkey, where high winds and dry air have made firefighting conditions especially difficult. Some areas are dealing with renewed flare-ups after thinking the fires had been brought under control.
It’s not just human lives at risk. Wildlife across affected forests has suffered immensely, with some environmental groups estimating hundreds of animals may have perished.
What Travelers Need to Know Now
The UK Foreign Office is not advising against all travel to Turkey or Cyprus but has updated its risk assessments for the most affected regions. The advice highlights:
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Avoid non-essential travel to forested or rural areas in affected provinces.
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Stay in contact with your hotel, local authorities, or tour operator.
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Keep mobile phones charged and have an evacuation plan if you’re in the vicinity of a fire.
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Air quality in smoke-affected regions is dangerously low. Vulnerable travelers should consider delaying plans.
Some travel insurance providers have already begun reviewing coverage policies for wildfire-related disruptions.
This comes during peak summer holiday season, when thousands of British travelers flock to Turkey’s southwestern coast and the beaches of southern Cyprus.
Local Firefighting Resources Stretched Thin
Firefighting teams across both countries are operating at maximum capacity.
In Turkey, more than 3,000 personnel and 20 firefighting aircraft have been mobilized. Yet, the vast scale of the fires has exposed weaknesses in emergency response coordination.
Local mayors have appealed for outside help. Several EU nations, including Greece and Italy, are reportedly in talks to provide aerial support under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
One Turkish firefighter interviewed on national TV said simply, “It’s like fighting a volcano with a garden hose.”
Political and Environmental Fallout
The disaster is stoking political tensions in both countries. In Turkey, opposition leaders criticized the government for failing to modernize its aerial firefighting fleet after the deadly 2021 fires.
Meanwhile, in Cyprus, environmentalists have pointed fingers at years of unchecked development and lax forest management. Some warned last year that aging pine forests in mountainous regions were a catastrophe waiting to happen.
Table showing fire-related fatalities and affected areas as of July 24, 2025:
| Country | Deaths | Major Affected Areas | Evacuated Residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | 10 | Eskişehir, Antalya, Muğla | ~2,000 |
| Cyprus | 2 | Limassol, Paphos | ~100 |
While temperatures are expected to dip slightly over the weekend, forecasters say conditions remain dangerously dry.
Travelers Caught in the Chaos
Several British tourists took to social media to share their experiences. One couple from Manchester, staying near Limassol, posted videos showing ash raining down on their hotel’s pool deck.
Another woman described the nightmarish experience of fleeing a holiday cottage with her two children as flames approached. “There were no alarms, no warnings. Just smoke and panic,” she wrote.
British consular officials have been dispatched to assist nationals affected by the fires, and extra staff are being flown in to help deal with a potential influx of requests.
Fires Are Only the Start of the Season
Unfortunately, this may be only the beginning.
Both Cyprus and Turkey experience intense fire seasons through late August. Climate scientists say longer summers and persistent droughts are making once-rare megafires a seasonal norm.
In Turkey alone, the number of wildfires recorded in the first half of 2025 is already double the 10-year average, according to the country’s forestry directorate.
Meanwhile, Cypriot authorities fear that increased tourist traffic could spark more accidental fires—especially with barbecues, cigarette butts, and illegal burning still a problem.
