Syrian Civil Defense evacuates village as wildfires spread across Latakia
LATAKIA, Syria (North Press) – Syrian Civil Defense teams evacuated on Tuesday residents from a village in the northern countryside of Latakia following the rapid expansion of wildfires that have been raging for six consecutive days in the mountainous regions of northwestern Syria.
According to the Civil Defense’s official social media accounts, teams evacuated the village of al-Ghassaniyah, located in the north of Latakia city, as flames approached the area.
Efforts to contain and extinguish the wildfires surrounding the village continue, especially after the fires intensified past midnight on Tuesday due to strong wind gusts.
Joint firefighting operations by Syrian, Turkish, and Jordanian Civil Defense teams, in coordination with volunteer organizations, are still underway to combat fires in the forests of al-Frunluq and Qastal Ma’af in Latakia countryside.
The neighboring Hama Governorate announced that firefighting and Civil Defense units had successfully contained a blaze that broke out in the village of Kherbet Youssef, near the town of Salhab.
Since July 1, massive fires have consumed large swaths of forested land in Latakia. Intense firefighting efforts are ongoing, involving teams from Syria, Turkey, and Jordan. Meanwhile, statements from officials suggest the possibility that the fires may have been deliberately set.