At least 11 individuals have lost their lives and dozens were hurt as wildfires ravaged multiple villages in predominantly Kurdish southeastern Turkey, according to government officials.

Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca confirmed the fatalities due to the overnight fire that spread between Diyarbakir and Mardin on Friday. He noted on X that 78 people were injured, with at least five in critical care units.

The inferno was sparked by burning crop stubble and fanned by winds, rapidly engulfing the villages of Koksalan, Yazcicegi, and Bagacik.

Social media images displayed a massive blaze against the night sky with extensive smoke plumes rising.

Emergency responders dispatched four teams and 35 ambulances to the affected area. By Friday, firefighters had successfully brought the flames under control, reported Diyarbakir Governor Ali Ihsan Su.

The pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) criticized the government for a "delayed and inadequate" response. The party called for water bombers during the night, arguing that ground efforts were "insufficient."

Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc mentioned that a public prosecutor's office had initiated an investigation into the fire's origin.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that the blaze started late Thursday in an area located 30km (18 miles) south of Diyarbakir and quickly spread to five villages driven by strong winds.

Simultaneously, in northwestern Turkey, firefighters were working to control a wildfire near Ayvacik town in Canakkale province, reported the state-run Anadolu Agency.

No casualties were reported, but authorities evacuated the small village of Camkoy as a safety measure, according to the agency.

This blaze was among several wildfires that erupted in Canakkale province over the last week amidst strong winds and high summer temperatures.

According to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), Turkey has endured 74 wildfires this year, affecting 12,910 hectares (31,900 acres) of land.