At least 10 firefighters and rescue workers were killed on Wednesday, and so many more were injured while battling a mega wildfire in northwestern Turkey, the forestry minister shared.

A total of five forestry workers and five members of the AKUT rescue organization passed away while making an attempt to put out the wildfire raging through the forested area of Eskisehir province. Meanwhile, 14 more rescue workers and forestry workers were hospitalized after being exposed to the dangerous fumes.

The deaths bring the number of fatalities in these wildfires down, which continue to flare amid strong winds, high temperatures, and dry conditions so far in the nation this year, to 13.

The minister mentioned how the wind suddenly changed direction and caused the flames to shift rapidly and surround the forest workers. It was not immediately clear what led to this fire.

Yumakli shared how the firefighters were currently battling seven wildfires in Turkey, including one in Eskisehir, adding that the extreme heat and volatile wind conditions were making it so much harder to carry out the rescue mission.

‘Beginning tomorrow, we are facing some high temperatures and extreme shifts in wind speed. Once again, I call on all 86 million citizens to be vigilant and exercise extreme caution during this time’- the message went on to read.