Heavy snow hits Turkey's northeast as southwest burns

Record low temperatures in Rize

Temperatures plummeted in mountainous areas inland from Rize, a town situated about 120 kilometers (75 miles) from the Georgian border. Gencaga Karafazlioglu, a local journalist, remarked that he had never witnessed snow in July before. He noted, “In Rize, we're used to weather anomalies. We've had snow several times in March, but never this much. The older generation recalls snow in July 30 or 40 years ago, but not like this.”

Impact on Ovit Yaylasi

In Ovit Yaylasi, a plateau located approximately 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) above sea level, fields were blanketed in white after the snowfall. Social media footage revealed the stunning transformation of the landscape. The snowfall covered an area stretching at least 100 kilometers, impacting regions from Anzer Yaylasi through Kackar Mountains National Park and beyond. According to Karafazlioglu, the town of Artvin, located about 50 kilometers inland, was the worst affected.

Battle against wildfires

Meanwhile, firefighters were engaged in battling at least 10 "major" forest fires across the country. Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli reported at a press conference that wildfires in Izmir province, where two fatalities occurred on Thursday, were now primarily under control. However, strong winds continued to pose a threat to Mugla in the southwest and Hatay in the south, where an "intense struggle" was underway to control the blaze near the Syrian border.

Causes and arrests related to wildfires

Yumakli revealed that there had been 624 wildfires in the past week, many sparked by faulty electric cables. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that 44 suspects had been arrested, with 10 placed in detention. Most of those apprehended were workers or farmers whose machinery inadvertently caused sparks that ignited the fires.