Wildfires continued to devastate Syria's coastal region on Friday. These blazes are part of a larger pattern, with over 3,500 fires having occurred across the country in recent months. This surge in wildfires is occurring during a period of severe drought, one of the worst in decades for Syria.
The White Helmets, Syria's civil defense agency, reported deploying additional teams from across the country to combat the wildfires. These fires had begun the previous day in the mountainous Latakia region, situated along the Mediterranean coast.
Firefighting efforts have been significantly challenged. The difficult terrain of the region, coupled with the presence of landmines and unexploded ordnance left over from the country's long civil war, has created additional obstacles.
According to Abdul Kafi Kayal, director of the White Helmets' coastal division, the situation was worsening. Strong winds were contributing to the rapid spread of the fires, pushing them into new areas. He expressed hope that containment efforts would begin to show results in the coming hours.
5 Comments
ZmeeLove
The press releases from the White Helmets feel more like PR stunts than genuine efforts to combat the wildfires.
Muchacho
This is just another disaster waiting to happen; without sustainable practices in place, these wildfires will only get worse.
Leonardo
Strong winds accelerating the fires just shows how unpredictable nature can be. We need to be better prepared!
Donatello
With all these challenges, I hope international organizations step up to provide more resources for firefighting efforts.
Michelangelo
This tragedy highlights the urgent need for stronger environmental protections everywhere, especially in conflict zones like Syria.