Wildfires in Western Syria Contained After 10 Days

Wildfires in Western Syria Contained After 10 Days
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Syria’s civil defense agency announced on Sunday that wildfires burning for 10 days in the coastal province of Latakia have been brought under control. The fires, fueled by an intense heatwave, destroyed around 100 square kilometers of forest and farmland, according to the UN humanitarian agency OCHA.

Efforts to contain the blazes faced challenges from high temperatures, strong winds, rugged terrain, and unexploded war remnants. Syrian Minister for Emergencies Raed Al-Saleh credited firefighting teams from Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, and Iraq for helping to stop the fires’ spread.

While several towns in Latakia were evacuated as a precaution, no casualties have been reported. Authorities warned that wind could still spark new fires, but said the situation had improved significantly.

Years of conflict and economic crisis have weakened Syria’s ability to respond to natural disasters, which are worsening due to climate change. The UN says Syria faces its most severe climate conditions in decades.