Air Quality Effects of Antalya Forest Fires in Turkiye

Abstract

The 2021 Turkey forest fires began on July 28, 2021, in the Manavgat district of Antalya and spread to many cities in Türkiye. As of August 12, 2021, 299 forest fires, most of which broke out in 53 provinces in the Mediterranean, Aegean, Marmara, Western Black Sea, and Southeastern Anatolia regions, had killed eight people. A significant increase compared to previous years, more than 150,000 hectares of forest and settlements had been reduced to ashes, and thousands of animals had died. The 299 forest fires, 15 of which were large, that started on July 28 were fully contained as of August 12, 2021, with the extinguishing of the fire in Köyceğiz district of Muğla. The fires were fought with 15 firefighting aircraft, 62 helicopters, 9 unmanned aerial vehicles, 1 unmanned helicopter, 850 water trucks and water tankers, 450 construction equipment, and 5,250 personnel. Many countries, including Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Russia, Spain, Croatia, Qatar, and Iran, provided personnel and vehicle support. Thousands of locals and tourists were evacuated from hundreds of villages and towns by land and sea as the fires spread to populated areas. The large-scale forest fire that broke out around Antalya is also of environmental concern. Air pollution caused by the fire, due to weather conditions, carries a risk of affecting the city centre. While Antalya's city centre’s location on the Mediterranean coast benefits from reducing air pollution, the high humidity and pressure fluctuations that occur occasionally contribute to increased air pollution. According to assessments of existing air monitoring network data in Antalya during the fire period, airflow carrying combustion gases from higher elevations to the Mediterranean Sea prevented further deterioration in air quality. © 2025, Hysen MANKOLLI. All rights reserved.