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Syrian authorities evacuate citizens amid major forest fires
Syrian authorities evacuate citizens amid major forest fires

Nahar Net

time5 days ago

  • Climate
  • Nahar Net

Syrian authorities evacuate citizens amid major forest fires

Syrian rescuers evacuated residential areas in Latakia province because of major forest fires, authorities said on Friday. Fires have spreading across large parts of Syria, particularly on the coast, for several days, with firefighters struggling to control them due to strong winds and a drought. Abdulkafi Kayyal, director of the Directorate of Disasters and Emergencies in Latakia province, told the state SANA news agency that fires in the Qastal Maaf area had moved close to several villages, prompting the evacuations. Syria's civil defense warned residents of "the spread of rising smoke emissions to the northern section of the coastal mountains, the city of Hama, its countryside, and southern Idlib areas." "Our teams recorded losses in the orchards due to the widespread spread of the forest fire in several areas of the Latakia countryside," the civil defense added, calling on citizens to report anyone they suspect of starting fires. Syrian minister of emergency situations and disasters Raed al-Saleh said on X that he was following events and "we will exert our utmost efforts to combat these fires". With man-made climate change increasing the likelihood and intensity of droughts and wildfires worldwide, Syria has been battered by heatwaves, low rainfall and major forest fires. In June, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization told AFP that Syria had "not seen such bad climate conditions in 60 years", noting that an unprecedented drought was on course to push more than 16 million people into food insecurity. The country is also reeling from more than a decade of civil war leading up to the end of the iron-fisted rule of Bashar al-Assad in December. Kayyal said the presence of mines and unexploded ordnance was hindering the work of rescuers, along with strong winds spreading the fires.

Mass evacuations as wildfires rage across Syria's Latakia province
Mass evacuations as wildfires rage across Syria's Latakia province

New Straits Times

time5 days ago

  • Climate
  • New Straits Times

Mass evacuations as wildfires rage across Syria's Latakia province

DAMASCUS: Syrian rescuers evacuated residential areas in Latakia province because of major forest fires, authorities said on Friday. Fires have spreading across large parts of Syria, particularly on the coast, for several days, with firefighters struggling to control them due to strong winds and a drought. Abdulkafi Kayyal, director of the Directorate of Disasters and Emergencies in Latakia province, told the state SANA news agency that fires in the Qastal Maaf area had moved close to several villages, prompting the evacuations. Syria's civil defence warned residents of "the spread of rising smoke emissions to the northern section of the coastal mountains, the city of Hama, its countryside, and southern Idlib areas." "Our teams recorded losses in the orchards due to the widespread spread of the forest fire in several areas of the Latakia countryside," the civil defence added, calling on citizens to report anyone they suspect of starting fires. Syrian minister of emergency situations and disasters Raed al-Saleh said on X that he was following events and "we will exert our utmost efforts to combat these fires." With man-made climate change increasing the likelihood and intensity of droughts and wildfires worldwide, Syria has been battered by heatwaves, low rainfall and major forest fires. In June, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation told AFP that Syria had "not seen such bad climate conditions in 60 years", noting that an unprecedented drought was on course to push more than 16 million people into food insecurity. The country is also reeling from more than a decade of civil war leading up to the end of the iron-fisted rule of Bashar al-Assad in December.

Syrain authorities evacuate hundreds in Latakia province amid major forest fires
Syrain authorities evacuate hundreds in Latakia province amid major forest fires

First Post

time5 days ago

  • Climate
  • First Post

Syrain authorities evacuate hundreds in Latakia province amid major forest fires

Fires have spreading across large parts of Syria, particularly on the coast, for several days, with firefighters struggling to control them due to strong winds and a drought. read more Vehicles drive as the Syrian central bank is seen in the background in Damascus, Syria February 12, 2025. - Reuters Syrian rescuers evacuated residential areas in Latakia province because of major forest fires, authorities said on Friday. Fires have spreading across large parts of Syria, particularly on the coast, for several days, with firefighters struggling to control them due to strong winds and a drought. Abdulkafi Kayyal, director of the Directorate of Disasters and Emergencies in Latakia province, told the state SANA news agency that fires in the Qastal Maaf area had moved close to several villages, prompting the evacuations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Syria's civil defence warned residents of 'the spread of rising smoke emissions to the northern section of the coastal mountains, the city of Hama, its countryside, and southern Idlib areas.' 'Our teams recorded losses in the orchards due to the widespread spread of the forest fire in several areas of the Latakia countryside,' the civil defence added, calling on citizens to report anyone they suspect of starting fires. Syrian minister of emergency situations and disasters Raed al-Saleh said on X that he was following events and 'we will exert our utmost efforts to combat these fires'. With man-made climate change increasing the likelihood and intensity of droughts and wildfires worldwide, Syria has been battered by heatwaves, low rainfall and major forest fires. In June, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation told AFP that Syria had 'not seen such bad climate conditions in 60 years', noting that an unprecedented drought was on course to push more than 16 million people into food insecurity. The country is also reeling from more than a decade of civil war leading up to the end of the iron-fisted rule of Bashar al-Assad in December. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Kayyal said the presence of mines and unexploded ordnance was hindering the work of rescuers, along with strong winds spreading the fires.

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