By Neil Shaw
Passengers heading to Turkey have had their flights cancelled amid evacuations in the popular tourist country. Take-offs and landings were all stopped at Adnan Menderes Airport close to Izmir on Sunday.
Wildfires have cause major disruption in Turkey this weekend. An airport spokesman said: “Due to the forest fire in Ä°zmir’s Gaziemir district and adverse weather conditions, including strong winds, Ä°zmir 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.
“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.”
Some flights departed late on Sunday night, with passengers facing major delays of up to 21 hours. One flight to London set to leave Turkey on Sunday evening has been rescheduled for Monday night.
The flights affected by the disruption are both international and national. Among passengers facing delays are some due to travel to London Stansted, Dublin and Brussels.
It comes after serious wildfires across parts of Greece last week, which caused damage and disruption. Major heatwaves across southern Europe have pushed temperatures above 40C in countries including Italy, Spain and Greece, with local authorities issuing fresh warnings over the risk of wildfires.
Severe heat was recorded in Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal before the weekend, with locals and tourists alike taking shelter from the sweltering conditions. Two-thirds of Portugal were on high alert on Sunday over extreme heat and wildfires, with temperatures expected to top 42C in Lisbon.
In Italy, a few regions – Lazio, Tuscany, Calabria, Puglia and Umbria – were planning to ban some outdoor work activities during the hottest hours of the day in response to the record high temperatures. Italian trade unions pushed the government to expand such measures at a national level.
On Sunday, the Italian health ministry placed 21 out of 27 monitored cities under its highest heat alert, including top holiday destinations like Rome, Milan and Naples. In Rome, tourists tried to seek shade near popular spots like the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain, using umbrellas and drinking from public water fountains to stay cool.
Similar scenes were reported in Milan and Naples, where street vendors sold lemonade to tourists and residents to offer some refreshment from the heat. Greece was again on high wildfire alert because of extreme weather, with the first summer heat wave expected to continue throughout the weekend.
A large wildfire broke out south of Athens on Thursday, forcing evacuations and road closures near the ancient Temple of Poseidon. Strong winds spread the flames, damaging homes and sending smoke across the sky. Experts warned that intense heat can affect daily life, especially for vulnerable populations such as the elderly and children.
Local authorities advised against physical activity during the hottest hours of the day, and recommended drinking plenty of fluids.