# Turkey disaster response & fire service updates > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/turkey-afad-disaster-response > Updated: 2026-08-07T11:46:10.000Z. Sources: 97. Developments: 31. AFAD’s disaster‑risk reduction programmes continued expanding through mid‑2026. After Konya Büyükşehir Municipality’s fire department earned JOIFF accreditation in July 2026 and opened the International Industrial Fire Response Training Centre, the agency added further preparedness actions. In late July, AFAD conducted a city‑wide siren test in Samsun (23 July, 14:30) using the IKAS system installed with ASELSAN, broadcasting a brief safety message to avoid panic. Simultaneously, hands‑on tent‑deployment drills were held for Samsun staff, underwater search‑and‑rescue exercises took place at İbrice Port in Edirne, and volunteer fire‑ and CBRN‑response courses ran in Istanbul’s Beylikdüzü district. Darıca municipality reported training over 43 000 citizens, while Keçiören offered fire‑safety workshops to 120 municipal employees. Çekmeköy district launched a public procurement for personal‑protection gear, rescue equipment and signage containers. Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Fire Directorate confirmed its units responded to 8,037 emergencies in the first half of 2026 – 2,971 fires, 649 traffic accidents, 362 floods, 3,537 rescues and 493 other incidents – reaching 1,479 citizens and 2,058 animals. Average response time stayed at five minutes, and 303 training sessions reached 29,119 residents, schoolchildren and industry staff. AFAD announced that its trained search‑and‑rescue workforce now exceeds 160,000 personnel, reflecting the 100‑thousand‑person Search‑Rescue Team Project’s rapid expansion. The increase includes 125 new training courses and 1,304 response vehicles, bolstering Turkey’s capacity for immediate disaster relief and long‑term preparedness. Municipal fire services across Turkey, including Elazığ, maintained 24/7 readiness, emphasizing public education, modern equipment and continuous training to minimise fire‑related damage. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-07: Balıkesir Fire Department Handles 1,521 Incidents in July 2026 Balıkesir Fire Department responded to 1,521 incidents in July 2026, including 937 fires and 489 rescues, saving 258 lives and conducting safety inspections and training. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/balkesir-fire-department-handles-1521-incidents-in-july-2026 ### 2026-07-24: Turkey's AFAD raises trained search‑rescue staff to over 160,000 AFAD reports its trained search‑rescue staff hit 160,013, a ten‑fold increase, and issued orange/yellow alerts for 35 provinces, deploying 18,705 personnel and 8,696 vehicles. 22 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-afad-boosts-searchandrescue-workforce-to-over-160000 ### 2026-07-21: Turkey's AFAD launches siren test and emergency preparedness trainings AFAD conducted a siren test in Samsun and led nationwide emergency‑response trainings, including tent setup, underwater rescue, volunteer drills and equipment procurement across Turkey. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-expands-disaster-preparedness-training-for-officials-and-volunteers ### 2026-07-21: Mersin Fire Department Handles Over 8,000 Calls in First Half of 2026 Mersin Fire Dept responded to 8,037 emergencies in the first half of 2026, saving 1,479 people and 2,058 animals with an average 5‑minute response time. 16 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mersin-fire-department-handles-8037-calls-in-first-half-of-2026 ### 2026-07-17: Konya Fire Department Becomes First Municipal Service Accredited by JOIFF Konya’s fire department earned JOIFF accreditation, the first municipal service worldwide to meet the standards, enabling it to train firefighters from Turkey and 57 OIC nations. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/konya-metropolitan-fire-department-earns-first-joiff-accreditation ### 2026-07-14: Turkish city fire services handle thousands of fires and rescues in early 2026 Diyarbakır fire crews dealt with 1,804 fires and 799 rescues in 73 days, while Eskişehir handled 526 fires and 558 rescues in Q2 2026, together reflecting thousands of emergency operations across Turkish cities 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkish-city-fire-services-handle-thousands-of-fires-and-rescues-in-early-2026 ### 2026-07-14: Balıkesir Fire Department Earns Turkey’s Fifth Medium‑Level AFAD Accreditation Balıkesir Fire Department earned Turkey’s fifth AFAD medium‑level accreditation after months of training, joining Istanbul, Kocaeli, Konya and Manisa. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/balkesir-fire-department-earns-turkeys-fifth-mediumlevel-afad-accreditation ### 2026-07-12: Turkish municipalities expand fire and disaster preparedness training Turkish local authorities—from Selçuklu, Hatay and Ankara municipalities to AFAD in Niğde and Nevşehir—held fire and disaster preparedness trainings and added equipment to boost emergency response. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-nevehir-and-seluklu-municipalities-boost-disaster-preparedness-training ### 2026-07-11: Konya wheat field fire destroys large portion of crops A transformer fire in Emirgazi, Konya burned most of a wheat field, prompting farmer‑led firebreaks and fire‑brigade response; investigation ongoing, no injuries reported. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/konya-wheat-field-fire-destroys-large-portion-of-crops ### 2026-07-11: IHAKUT Aviation Sports Club signs protocol with Adana AFAD to boost drone‑based disaster response IHAKUT Aviation Sports Club and Adana AFAD sign a protocol to use drones for disaster preparedness, response and recovery, with joint training and coordination. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ihakut-aviation-sports-club-signs-protocol-with-adana-afad-to-boost-dronebased-disaster-response ### 2026-07-09: Erzincan Municipal Firefighters Complete Advanced 60‑Hour Training Program Erzincan fire crews finished a 60‑hour joint training program covering theory and realistic fire‑rescue drills to improve emergency response and public safety. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/erzincan-municipal-firefighters-complete-advanced-60hour-training-program ### 2026-07-08: Turkey's AFAD rolls out risk‑reduction projects and rescues missing citizen AFAD launches a 51‑project risk‑reduction programme across 18 Turkish provinces and rescues a missing Konya resident after a six‑day search. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-afad-rolls-out-riskreduction-projects-and-rescues-missing-citizen ### 2026-07-08: Denizli Volunteer Rescue Team Receives National AFAD Accreditation Denizli’s volunteer rescue unit DEBAK earned AFAD accreditation after seven months of training, allowing it to operate nationwide in Turkish disasters. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/denizli-volunteer-rescue-team-receives-national-afad-accreditation ### 2026-07-07: AFAD and İHAKUT sign protocol to strengthen disaster response in Van, Turkey AFAD and volunteer aviation club İHAKUT signed a protocol in Van to boost disaster response speed, joint training, aerial imaging and volunteer rescue operations. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/afad-and-ihakut-sign-protocol-to-strengthen-disaster-response-in-van-turkey ### 2026-07-06: Mersin city ramps up hotel fire safety and consumer‑goods inspections Mersin officials inspected hotels for fire‑safety compliance and examined 1,287 firms for consumer‑protection violations, issuing fines totaling 329,759 TL. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mersin-city-ramps-up-hotel-fire-safety-and-consumergoods-inspections ### 2026-07-04: Fire erupts in Gaziantep's Araban district, spreads to neighboring villages A fire in Gaziantep's Araban district spread to a neighboring Adıyaman village; residents fought it with tractors as fire‑trucks struggled to access the mountainous area, prompting calls for a new access road. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vehicle-fires-blaze-parked-cars-in-bursa-and-nazilli-turkey ### 2026-07-03: Turkey's AFAD trains people with disabilities in disaster preparedness AFAD conducted a disaster‑preparedness workshop for disabled residents in Kırşehir, teaching kit use, emergency actions and basic rescue skills. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-afad-trains-people-with-disabilities-in-disaster-preparedness ### 2026-06-28: Keçiören Municipality First Ankara Unit to Get AFAD Rescue Accreditation Keçiören Municipality’s KEÇTİM rescue team became the first Ankara municipal unit to obtain AFAD’s Urban Search and Rescue Accreditation after passing two‑stage exams and a simulated disaster drill. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/keiren-municipality-first-ankara-unit-to-get-afad-rescue-accreditation ### 2026-06-27: Large agricultural fire spreads in Tekirdağ, Turkey A wind‑driven fire in agricultural fields near Marmaraereğlisi, Tekirdağ, Turkey spread to four points, threatening homes and prompting a multi‑agency response; cause remains unknown. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/two-agricultural-fires-break-out-in-tekirdas-marmaraerelisi-district ### 2026-06-26: AFAD trains TPIC staff on KBRN hazards in Şırnak AFAD held KBRN and disaster‑awareness training for TPIC staff in Şırnak, covering natural and human‑made hazards and reinforcing safety and response procedures. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/afad-trains-tpic-staff-on-kbrn-hazards-in-rnak ### 2026-06-25: Turkey extinguishes fires at recycling plant in Eskişehir and solid waste facility in Edirne Turkey extinguished fires at recycling and solid waste facilities in Eskişehir and Edirne, causing damage but no injuries; causes are under investigation. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-extinguishes-fires-at-recycling-plant-in-eskiehir-and-solid-waste-facility-in-edirne ### 2026-06-24: Turkey's disaster‑response volunteers receive AFAD accreditation Turkey’s volunteer disaster‑response teams in Trabzon and Manisa earned AFAD accreditation after completing standards‑based training, marking a step toward coordinated emergency management. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-disasterresponse-volunteers-receive-afad-accreditation ### 2026-06-24: Turkey boosts fire safety with training in Mersin and mobile stations in Tekirdağ Turkey's Mersin municipality trained women producers in fire safety, while Tekirdağ set up six mobile fire stations to improve rapid response during the summer fire risk. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-boosts-fire-safety-with-training-in-mersin-and-mobile-stations-in-tekirda ### 2026-06-23: Turkish municipalities boost fire safety at home and abroad Ankara delivered 546 fire tankers and trained 2,500 locals for rural fire safety; Konya, with TİKA, gave Djibouti fire crews a week of advanced fire‑fighting and rescue training. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkish-municipalities-boost-fire-safety-at-home-and-abroad ### 2026-06-18: Turkey conducts KBRN disaster response trainings in Yozgat Hospital and Karaman Turkey held KBRN disaster response trainings at Yozgat Hospital and a large AFAD drill in Karaman, involving health workers and 299 emergency personnel. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-conducts-kbrn-disaster-response-trainings-in-yozgat-hospital-and-karaman ### 2026-06-18: AFAD Volunteer Kaan Mehrekula Takes Part in Karaman Earthquake Drill after 2023 Quake AFAD held a multi‑agency disaster drill in Karaman; volunteer Kaan Mehrekula, who lost 40 relatives in the 2023 Hatay quake, took part and called for greater volunteer involvement. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/afad-volunteer-kaan-mehrekula-takes-part-in-karaman-earthquake-drill-after-2023-quake ### 2026-06-16: Governor Ahmet Karakaya visits AFAD thematic camp in Ahlat Turkey's Bitlis Governor Ahmet Karakaya inspected AFAD's Ahlat disaster‑preparedness camp, praised coordination among rescue teams and highlighted ongoing risk‑reduction planning. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/governor-ahmet-karakaya-visits-afad-thematic-camp-in-ahlat ### 2026-06-15: Turkey's AFAD launches thematic disaster‑response camp in Ahlat AFAD held a five‑day thematic disaster‑response camp in Ahlat (June 15‑19), training 411 staff from 76 provinces and honoring fallen colleague Ömer Faruk Özkan; officials said the program boosts Turkey’s rescue 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-afad-launches-thematic-disasterresponse-camp-in-ahlat ### 2026-06-09: Turkey's AFAD conducts disaster awareness training for road and municipal security staff AFAD trained road staff in Bayburt and municipal police in Kocaeli on disaster response, coordination, and incident management. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-afad-conducts-disaster-awareness-training-for-road-and-municipal-security-staff ### 2026-05-30: Turkey's AFAD mobilizes 13,000 responders and accredits Manişa fire rescue team AFAD deployed over 13,300 staff and 5,600 vehicles across Turkey for landslides and floods, while Manisa’s fire department earned international search‑rescue accreditation after a simulated earthquake drill. 44 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-expands-disaster-response-with-13000-afad-personnel-and-first-accredited-searchrescue-team ### 2026-05-20: AFAD evacuates 464 households and roughly 15,000 residents in Tokat ahead of flood risk AFAD moved 464 households (≈15 000 people) and thousands of animals to safety in Tokat as flood risk rose. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-afad-chief-oversees-flood-evacuations-in-tokat --- Cite as: Turkey disaster response & fire service updates. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/turkey-afad-disaster-response