Fire in Latakia Continues for the Seventh Day Amid Tough Extinguishing Efforts

SadaNews - Efforts to extinguish forest fires in the rural areas of Syrian Latakia continue for the seventh consecutive day, amidst challenging and complex conditions faced by local and international firefighting teams.

 

The fires have so far consumed around 14,000 hectares of forests and agricultural land, with 28 sites completely reduced to ashes, making these fires among the most dangerous environmental disasters the region has witnessed in recent years.

Sixteen specialized aircraft from Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon are participating in the firefighting operations, with expectations to increase the number to 20 aircraft to support aerial efforts, alongside ground vehicles and firefighting teams working on the ground in coordination with a joint operations room comprising the relevant ministries and international entities.

Despite this coordination, the teams face significant challenges, the most prominent of which are the rugged terrains, such as steep slopes and dense forests, which hinder access to fire hotspots, especially in the regions of Sheikh Hassan and Qastal Mafa. Strong winds also contribute to the rapid spread of the flames, despite the establishment of "fire lines" using heavy machinery to isolate some burning areas.

The situation is further complicated by the presence of war remnants, including mines and unexploded ordnance, posing a direct threat to the safety of firefighters and significantly complicating their work.

In parallel with these efforts, more than 25 families were evacuated from the Al-Ghassaniyah area in the town of Kessab as flames approached their homes, while authorities urged nearby residents to stay indoors and wear masks due to the thick smoke covering the skies of neighboring provinces such as Idlib and Tartus.

The Syrian government also launched the campaign "With Our Hands, We Revive It" as a proactive step aimed at reforesting the affected areas and supporting families who have lost their properties.

Despite positive indications that the fires may be controlled soon, the biggest challenge remains to develop long-term plans for rehabilitating forests and establishing an early warning system to counter such disasters in the future.