A raging wall of fire lit up the night sky over Bursa, Turkiye's fourth-largest city, as wildfires surged dangerously close to populated areas, triggering mass evacuations and highway closures in a rapidly escalating crisis.

Blazes that have torched parts of the country for weeks intensified Saturday night, spreading through the forested mountains near Bursa in the country’s northwest. More than 1,700 residents were evacuated overnight as over 1,100 firefighters fought to contain the flames.

The wildfire threat turned catastrophic as temperatures soared to a record-breaking 50.5°C (122.9°F) in the southeastern province of Sirnak — the highest ever recorded in Turkiye. The national weather agency said 132 other regions also experienced historic July highs, making conditions perfect for fires to spread uncontrollably.

Also Read: Syrian Coast Wildfires: UN Teams Rush to Aid as Hundreds Flee Devastation

Opposition MP Orhan Saribal described the fiery chaos as "an apocalypse," while harrowing TV footage showed charred farmland and blackened pine forests where green landscapes once flourished.

Fire crews across Turkiye battled 76 separate blazes on Saturday alone, according to Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yamukli, with the northwestern region under the most serious threat. Karabuk, another forest-heavy area, has been burning since Tuesday.

As flames closed in, the highway connecting Bursa to Ankara was shut down, disrupting travel and emergency access. Authorities declared Izmir and Bilecik disaster zones amid the growing devastation.

The human toll is rising too. Thirteen people, including 10 volunteer rescuers and forestry workers, have died in recent weeks. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc confirmed legal action against 97 suspects in connection with fires under investigation in 33 provinces.

With winds easing slightly Sunday morning, firefighters gained a brief window to contain the blaze—but with heat still soaring and forests bone-dry, the nightmare may be far from over.

Also Read: Man Posing as Gas Mechanic Arrested for Attempted Rape in Odisha