A devastating wildfire in Turkey's western Izmir province has claimed its first life, an 81-year-old bedridden man who was home alone when the blaze spread to a residential area. This tragic incident, reported by the state-owned Anadolu news agency on Thursday, marks the first fatality after nearly a week of scattered blazes across the country.

The victim was killed in the Odemis district, where firefighters had been battling the inferno for a second consecutive day. Amid billowing smoke, multiple helicopters and other aircraft were deployed, dropping water on the mountainous terrain in an intensive effort to contain the flames. The severity of the situation led authorities to close certain roads leading to the Aegean resort town of Cesme, with broadcasters showing alarming footage of flames encroaching upon parts of the main highway as water tankers arrived on scene.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that wildfires across Turkey's west have resulted in damage to approximately 200 homes, with victims being provided alternative accommodation. Earlier in the week, an estimated 50,000 people were temporarily evacuated due to the fires, which have been exacerbated by a combination of high temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds. While some of these blazes have been successfully contained, new outbreaks were reported on Thursday in the southern resort province of Antalya and just outside Istanbul, Turkey's largest city, according to Anadolu.