Wildfires that threatened the graves of Australian soldiers at ANZAC Cove in Gallipoli, Turkey, have been brought under control, though the threat remains.
Dry, hot, and windy weather conditions sparked a series of fires that quickly spread across the Gallipoli Peninsula, affecting several commemorative and operational sites.
It has not yet been confirmed whether Australian war graves and memorials have been damaged.
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The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), which maintains graves and memorials to the dead from Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and India among many others, said staff had evacuated from the peninsula and were safe.
The CWGC cares for more than 30 cemeteries on the Gallipoli Peninsula.
“The CWGC is deeply concerned to learn that large fires reportedly started by an electrical fault, have burnt historical areas of the Gallipoli peninsula in Türkiye,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
“We understand this news may cause distress, especially to those with personal connections to those commemorated but any damage will be assessed and work to remediate it will be undertaken as soon as it is possible to do so.
“In the interim, our thoughts are with our colleagues, their families and the wider communities affected by the fires, and with those with personal connections to those we commemorate on the Gallipoli Peninsula.”
The CWGC thanked those fighting to keep local people and villages safe, and to limit damage to commemorative sites of all nations.
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Images of the site in northwest Turkey showed soot-blackened gravestones in a scorched garden looking out over the Aegean Sea.
Emergency services continue to battle the fires, which were reportedly started by an electrical fault.
Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli told the Associated Press said teams were still fighting 17 of 47 forest fires that were active on Friday.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Gallipoli was “sacred ground to both of our countries” while speaking at a press conference yesterday.
“Our thoughts today are also with our friends in Türkiye. We understand there are efforts underway to control fires that are burning on the Gallipoli Peninsula,” Albanese said.
“So our thoughts today are with those who continue to care for those cemeteries, and welcome thousands of Australians who visit ANZAC headstones each year, as they endure these difficult times.
“Gallipoli is, of course, sacred ground to both of our countries.”
It comes two months since authorities announced that record-breaking temperatures across the country had led to a massive increase in forest fires compared to last year.
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