DEADLY wildfires are raging in Turkey, leaving destruction and chaos in their trail.
But where are they and why are they happening?
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A view of a wildfire from Icmeler Bay, 8km south west of the Aegean Sea resort city of Marmaris in Turkey Credit: Getty What's happening in Turkey?
A severe heatwave has blasted southern Europe - with temperatures rising above 40C.
Wildfires have broken out in nearby Greece and Italy, but Turkey has been hit hard with nearly 235,000 acres burned.
In Turkey, the fires have broken out in the Mediterranean region, including Antalya, Adana, Mersin and Marmaris.
Wildfires raging in Turkey for a fifth day have pushed the death toll to eight.
Residents and tourists in Antalya and Mugla fled the danger in small boats while the coast guard and two navy ships waited out at sea in case a bigger evacuation was needed.
In one video, firetrucks and cars were rushing to escape fire raging on all sides. After nightfall, the villages looked apocalyptic from a distance, with flames taking over the dark hills.
Bodrum mayor Ahmet Aras said that people experienced “hell” near Cokertme and Mazi as they drove away from the fire.
He said the blaze could not be stopped and hoped to protect residential areas but said it was too late for the trees.
More than 330 people have received medical treatment as the flames were worsened by strong winds.
Roads have also been cut off by flames as residents have had to be either airlifted to safety or picked up by boat from the beaches.
Two navy landing crafts were deployed to evacuate people from Turunc.
And the Turkish Coastguard evacuated three five star hotels in Bodrum along with help from private boats and yachts.
Investigators are trying to establish whether some of the fires were started deliberately, amid reports that one suspected arsonist has been detained.
One fire in the coastal town Marmaris was caused by children, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.
And while Turkish authorities investigate whether fires were started as an act of “sabotage”, experts mostly point to the climate crisis, as seen by the drastic increases in temperatures along with accidents caused by people.
Turkey suffered devastating wildfires in 2020 with over 40,000 acres forestland destroyed in 2,957 recorded blazes.
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Where are the fires in Turkey? June 26 and 27 - Fires in Ka？, Tarsus and Marmaris began when the maximum temperature for 60 years occurred in Cizre at over 49C July 28 - Alarm raised after major fires begin in Manavgat July 29 - Three people die in wild fires in Manavgat, dozens of villages and hotels were evacuated, 60 fires across the country break out, 17 ravage the countryside uncontrolled July 30 - Fifty-seven out of 71 fires now under control, more than 2000 farm animals dead and 4,000 firefighters deployed August 1 - Seven people died in Antalya and one in Marmaris, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Twitter. Fires continue to rage uncontrolled in Mugla and Antalya, others now being managed August 2 - Death toll is now at eight with 10 others receiving treatment in hospital in Manavgat
Horrifying moment pals drive through towering flames to escape wildfires ravaging Turkey leaving four dead