Wildfires rage across Turkey, threaten sacred Anzac Cove

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the fires raging in Turkey. Photo / Bekir Karacabey / Facebook

Severe wildfires are currently spreading across southern Turkey and may reach Anzac Cove, the burial site of thousands of Australian and New Zealand soldiers.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a press conference alongside Prime Minister Christopher Luxon: “Our thoughts today are also with our friends in Turkey. We understand there are efforts under way to control fires that are burning on the Gallipoli Peninsula.

“Gallipoli is, of course, sacred ground to both of our countries.

“Eighteen thousand were wounded during the campaign. And there were more than 7200 Australians buried in cemeteries or listed as missing there,” Albanese said.

Turkey’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry general manager Bekir Karacabey shared drone footage online, showing firefighters and helicopters fighting towering smoke.

He said firefighters were intervening from land and air to bring the forest fire in Eceabat, Canakkale, under control.

“Let’s be careful to prevent other fires in these days when the risk of fire increases due to extraordinary weather conditions.”

Çanakkale Eceabat’ta meydana gelen orman yangınını kontrol altına almak için #YeşilVatan’ın muhafızlarıyla karadan ve havadan durmaksızın müdahale ediyoruz.

Yangın riskinin olağanüstü hava şartları nedeniyle arttığı şu günlerde azami dikkat ederek başka yangınların önüne geçelim pic.twitter.com/mhRT55lhnF

— Bekir KARACABEY (@BekirKARACABEY_) August 15, 2024

Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said 1413 firefighters – supported by 14 planes, 31 helicopters and 265 land vehicles – had been dispatched to control another fire in Manisa, 300km from the Gallipoli site.

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson told Stuff they were monitoring the situation closely and their team in Ankara is in contact with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to understand the impact of the fire.

According to 7News Australia, firefighting operations were nearing Lone Pine Cemetery which commemorates nearly 5000 Australian and New Zealand servicemen.

For eight months during the Gallipoli campaign in 1915, Australian and New Zealand troops fought alongside British, Irish, French, Indian and Newfoundland soldiers trying to take the peninsula.

By the time the campaign ended, more than 130,000 men had died, including 2779 New Zealanders.