Massive wildfires in Syria have forced emergency crews to evacuate people from residential areas in Latakia province, officials confirmed on Friday.
For several days, wildfires have been burning across large parts of the country, especially along the coast. Firefighters are struggling to contain the flames because of strong winds and ongoing drought conditions.
According to Abdulkafi Kayyal, who heads the Directorate of Disasters and Emergencies in Latakia, the fires in the Qastal Maaf area have spread dangerously close to several villages. This has led to emergency evacuations, he told the state-run SANA news agency.
Civil Defence Warns of Heavy Smoke and Damage
Syria’s civil defence team warned that “the spread of rising smoke emissions to the northern section of the coastal mountains, the city of Hama, its countryside, and southern Idlib areas” poses a threat to nearby regions.
The civil defence also reported losses in local agriculture, stating, “Our teams recorded losses in the orchards due to the widespread spread of the forest fire in several areas of the Latakia countryside.” They asked residents to report anyone suspected of deliberately starting the fires.
Government Promises Full Efforts to Stop the Fires
Raed al-Saleh, Syria’s minister of emergency situations and disasters, wrote on X that he is closely watching the situation. He assured citizens that “we will exert our utmost efforts to combat these fires.”
Climate change has made Syria more vulnerable to severe weather. The country has faced repeated heatwaves, very little rain, and dangerous wildfires in recent years.
In June, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) told AFP that Syria was suffering from the worst climate conditions seen in 60 years. The agency warned that a record-breaking drought could push over 16 million people into food insecurity.
Civil War and Hidden Dangers Make Firefighting Risky
The situation is more complicated because of Syria’s long civil war, which lasted more than a decade and ended with the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December.
Kayyal noted that the work of rescue teams is being slowed down not only by high winds but also by the risk of mines and unexploded weapons left behind in the region.