Milas Mayor Muhammet Tokat, from Turkey's main opposition party, has been warning of the fire risks for the past two days for the Kemerkoy power plant in Mugla province.

He said late on Wednesday that the plant was being evacuated. Local reporters said the wildfires had also prompted the evacuation of the nearby seaside area of Oren.

Turkey's defence ministry said it was moving people by sea as the fires neared the plant. The state broadcaster TRT said the flames had "jumped" to the plant. Strong winds were making the fires unpredictable.

Authorities have said safety precautions had been taken at the Kemerkoy power plant and its hydrogen tanks were emptied.

As the mayor announced the evacuation on Twitter, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was speaking live on A Hbr and said the power plant was at risk of burning.

Firefighters have been trying to protect the power plant for the past two days. Along with police water cannons, they fought back the flames on Tuesday night while other rescuers dug ditches around the Kemerkoy plant.

Scorching heat, low humidity and strong winds have fed the fires, which have killed eight people in the past eight days.

Villagers have had to flee their homes and livestock, while tourists have fled in boats and cars. In the seaside province of Mugla, where tourist hotspot Bodrum is located, seven fires continued on Wednesday.

Officials said 167 fires had been brought under control and 16 continued in five provinces.

The heatwave is forecast to continue in Turkey and Greece until the end of the week.

Australian Associated Press