Newly released bodycam footage captures the intense reality for firefighters battling a series of deadly wildfires sweeping across Turkey amid an unprecedented Mediterranean heatwave.

Eighteen people have lost their lives so far — including ten rescue volunteers and forestry workers who perished in July when a sudden wind shift engulfed them in flames in north-western Turkey. The blazes have forced nearly 200 people to evacuate in the province of Mersin alone, with additional fatalities reported in Izmir, Eskişehir, Bursa, and Osmaniye.

Authorities warn that the fires, which have been raging since late June, are being fueled by a dangerous combination of factors — from careless farming practices and poorly maintained power lines to intense summer lightning storms. Meteorologists report that temperatures have soared 6–12°C above seasonal norms, with some areas exceeding 50°C in Turkey’s southeast for the first time in recorded history.

As exhausted crews continue the fight on multiple fronts, officials stress that rising global temperatures are increasing the frequency and ferocity of such disasters, making prevention and preparedness more critical than ever.