Violent wildfires are currently raging across several Turkish regions, including the popular tourist destination of Antalya. More than a dozen villages had to be evacuated, and there have been multiple fatalities. In the Antalya region, emergency services have been battling the flames both from the air and on the ground in three municipalities, according to a report Friday by the state-run Anadolu news agency. Fierce fires are also burning in the province of Karabük. 

For three consecutive days, authorities have been fighting the blazes as they continue to spread with the wind. Izmir and Bilecik declared disaster zones So far, 14 villages have been evacuated as a precaution. Images show thick layers of smoke partially obscuring the sky. Emergency services are also struggling to contain fires in the provinces of Eskisehir, Sakarya, and Afyonkarahisar, Anadolu reported.

According to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, the provinces of Izmir and Bilecik — which were also hit hard by major wildfires — have now been declared disaster zones. Ten people died in Eskisehir: five were forest workers and five worked in disaster response teams. Fires largely under control in Cyprus Meanwhile, there is positive news coming from Cyprus, where the battle against the flames has largely been won.

The situation is “very, very good,” said Fire Chief Nikos Logginos on Friday, after several flare-ups occurred overnight. As a precaution, firefighters will remain on standby in the coming days. The wildfire that broke out on Wednesday claimed the lives of two people, destroyed dozens of homes, and burned around 125 square meters of forest.

The Mediterranean island has suffered from severe drought for years. This week, temperatures soared to 44 degrees Celsius at times, and strong winds further fanned the flames. Authorities report that 43 homes were destroyed and another 29 damaged by the wildfire. Police have launched an investigation on suspicion of arson.