Massive wildfires, driven by extreme heat, have ravaged large swathes of forest and farmland in western Syria, leading to the evacuation of several villages.
Authorities confirmed on Sunday that after ten grueling days, the fires have finally been brought under control. The Syrian Civil Defense shared this update on Facebook, as reported by AFP.
“The spread of the fires has been contained, and all active fronts have been brought under control,” the statement said. Emergency crews are now focused on cooling down the scorched areas and keeping a close eye out for any signs of flare-ups. These fires erupted during a severe heatwave in the coastal province of Latakia.
Extent of the Damage
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the fires have devastated around 100 square kilometers of forests and agricultural land. Firefighting assistance came from several neighboring countries, including Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, and Iraq.
Fortunately, no fatalities have been reported, but local authorities took precautionary measures by evacuating residents from multiple towns in the province. Syrian rescue teams faced harsh conditions—sweltering temperatures, strong winds, rugged mountainous terrain, and the looming danger of unexploded ordnance left from years of conflict.
A Nation Still Healing
Syria is still dealing with the aftermath of a nearly 14-year civil war, which officially came to an end last December with the ousting of long-time dictator Bashar al-Assad. The recent wildfires present yet another hurdle for a nation that is still in the process of rebuilding, with both its people and its natural environment bearing the heavy scars of prolonged conflict.
