A devastating fire that began in crop stubble swept through settlements in southeast Turkey overnight, resulting in the tragic deaths of five individuals and requiring medical treatment for dozens more, officials and news reports confirmed on Friday.

The inferno ignited in a region straddling the provinces of Diyarbakir and Mardin. Propelled by strong winds, it rapidly spread through the villages of Koksalan, Yazcicegi, and Bagacik, according to Diyarbakir Governor Ali Ihsan Su. The blaze was successfully brought under control early Friday morning.

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced on social media platform X that 44 people were hospitalized due to the fire, with 10 of them in serious condition.

Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc stated that an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire, which illuminated the night sky in a terrifying spectacle.

Residents suspect that sparks from a power line may have ignited the crop residue, leading to the fire, as reported by independent news website Gazete Duvar. Some of the injured individuals were villagers who had attempted to extinguish the flames.

In addition to the human toll, hundreds of farm animals perished in the fire, according to HaberTurk news channel.

Simultaneously, in northwest Turkey, firefighters were contending with a wildfire near the town of Ayvacik in Canakkale province, reported the state-run Anadolu Agency. While no injuries were reported, authorities evacuated the small village of Camkoy as a precautionary measure.

This wildfire is one of several that have erupted in Canakkale province over the past week, exacerbated by high winds and scorching summer temperatures.

From AP