Widespread Wildfires Devastate Southwestern Libya
Widespread Wildfires Devastate Southwestern Libya
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Wildfires have engulfed Alawenat Oasis in southwestern Libya, spreading rapidly into residential neighborhoods, Anadolu Agency reported.
The fires, which ignited earlier that day, remain uncontrolled and have sparked panic among residents, the state news agency LANA reported.
“The fires began in agricultural fields due to extreme heat and quickly spread to nearby homes, amid a noticeable lack of specialized firefighting teams,” the agency stated.
Saleh Sawsam, head of the local youth council in Alawenat, called on security and military authorities for immediate intervention to contain the blaze, warning of an “imminent disaster.”
“We are currently relying on sewage trucks and their pumps in a makeshift effort to extinguish the fires, after previous requests for specialized firefighting equipment went unanswered,” Sawsam explained.
He emphasized that the city is facing extremely critical conditions. “The shortage of resources is worsening the residents’ plight, and with each passing minute, more property is lost.”
High temperatures during the summer months often trigger recurring wildfires in several Libyan regions, especially in the south and west. The latest similar incident occurred on March 9, when fires broke out in the palm forests of Rebiana city in southeastern Libya.
