By Howard Lloyd Neil Shaw
Passengers bound for Turkey have seen their flights scrapped as evacuations unfold in the tourist hotspot. Flight operations at Adnan Menderes Airport near Izmir were halted on Sunday. Turkey has been grappling with severe wildfires, causing significant upheaval this weekend. An airport representative stated: “Due to the forest fire in İzmir’s Gaziemir district and adverse weather conditions, including strong winds, İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport was temporarily closed to air traffic as of 16:00 local time. Some incoming flights were diverted to alternate airports during the closure.” They added: “Following the NOTAM [meaning notice to airmen], the runway has reopened and the first flight, PC 1864 to Ercan, has successfully departed at 21:50 local time. Flight operations are gradually returning to normal.” Several flights eventually took off late Sunday evening, leaving passengers stranded with delays that stretched up to 21 hours. A particular flight destined for London on Sunday evening is now rescheduled to depart Monday night, reports Glasgow Live . The travel chaos affected both domestic and international flights. Among those delayed were travellers scheduled for London Stansted, Dublin, and Brussels. This disruption follows devastating wildfires in parts of Greece last week, which led to destruction and disorder. Southern Europe is experiencing intense heatwaves, with temperatures soaring above 40C in nations like Italy, Spain, and Greece, prompting local authorities to issue renewed alerts about the danger of wildfires. Before the weekend, intense heat was experienced in Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal, forcing both locals and tourists to seek refuge from the blistering conditions. On Sunday, two-thirds of Portugal was on high alert due to extreme heat and wildfires, with temperatures in Lisbon predicted to exceed 42C. In Italy, several regions – including Lazio, Tuscany, Calabria, Puglia and Umbria – were considering prohibiting certain outdoor work activities during the day’s peak heat in response to the record-breaking temperatures. Italian trade unions urged the government to implement such measures nationwide. On Sunday, the Italian health ministry issued its highest heat alert for 21 out of the 27 cities it monitors, encompassing popular holiday destinations like Rome, Milan and Naples. In Rome, tourists sought shade near renowned landmarks like the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain, using umbrellas and drinking from public water fountains to keep cool. Similar scenes unfolded in Milan and Naples, where street vendors offered lemonade to tourists and locals as a respite from the heat. Greece was once again on high wildfire alert due to the severe weather, with the season’s first heatwave expected to persist over the weekend. A significant wildfire erupted south of Athens on Thursday, necessitating evacuations and road closures in the vicinity of the historic Temple of Poseidon. Forceful winds fanned the flames, causing damage to properties and filling the sky with smoke. Experts cautioned that extreme heat can disrupt daily life, particularly for susceptible groups like the elderly and children. Local officials discouraged physical exertion during the peak heat of the day, and advocated for the consumption of ample fluids.