BILECIK, Turkey/NICOSIA (Reuters) -Firefighters battled multiple wildfires across Turkey and Cyprus on Thursday that have scorched swathes of land, forced the evacuation of towns and villages and killed 10 firefighters in central Turkey amid a searing Mediterranean heatwave.

In Turkey, temperatures have soared above 40C in recent days and fires are currently burning across five areas - Sakarya, Bilecik, Eskisehir, İzmir, Karabuk and Manisa. Hundreds of wildfires have broken out across Turkey this summer, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate their homes.

A scorching Mediterranean heatwave exacerbates wildfires across Turkey and Cyprus, claiming the lives of 10 firefighters and threatening numerous communities. Harsh winds and inaccessible terrain are escalating the crisis,