Irish tourists on alert as holiday hotspot sizzles past 50C record amid raging wildfires

Irish holidaymakers in Turkey are being urged to take extreme caution after the country recorded its highest-ever temperature and continues to battle a wave of wildfires.

The sweltering new record of 50.5C was registered in Silopi, a town in Turkey's southeast near the Syrian and Iraqi borders, on Friday, July 25, according to the Turkish Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate.

The temperature surpasses the previous national record of 49.5°C set in 2023 and comes as much of Turkey swelters under an intense heatwave, which experts say is increasing the risk of devastating wildfires.

“According to the data from our General Directorate of Meteorology, a temperature record for Turkey was broken in Şırnak Silopi on July 25 with 50.5°C," the ministry said in a statement on X.

“It is expected that air temperatures will continue to remain above seasonal norms in the coming week. We kindly request our citizens to act with care and sensitivity to prevent any forest fires due to the hot weather."

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The UK Met Office also warned of "serious health impacts" and an "extremely high risk of wildfires" due to the intense heat, adding that the record-breaking temperature "exceeds the previous record of 49.5°C recorded on 15th August 2023".

The warnings come amid an ongoing wildfire crisis in the country, with dozens of blazes breaking out daily in recent weeks. Fires have devastated large parts of western and northwestern Turkey and now threaten some major cities.

In Bursa, Turkey's fourth-largest city, more than 1,700 people have been evacuated from villages on the city's outskirts as flames scorched thousands of hectares of land. One firefighter died after suffering a heart attack while battling the blaze.

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Officials have declared the provinces of Izmir and Bilecik disaster zones, and rescue workers across the country have been deployed to confront more than 80 separate fires in recent days.

Irish tourists travelling to or currently in Turkey, particularly in regions such as Izmir, Bursa, and the southeast, are being advised to stay hydrated and avoid the sun during peak hours, to follow all local fire restrictions and evacuation orders, avoid high-risk areas and keep updated on local news, and check travel and safety advice via the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The Turkish government has warned that high winds may continue to worsen the wildfire threat over the coming days, even in areas where fires had previously been brought under control.

The extreme heat is expected to linger well into next week.

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