{"id":127181,"date":"2025-07-14T09:46:38","date_gmt":"2025-07-14T09:46:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/npasyria.com\/en\/?p=127181"},"modified":"2025-07-14T09:46:40","modified_gmt":"2025-07-14T09:46:40","slug":"fires-devastate-syrias-latakia-as-over-15000-hectares-of-forests-burn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/npasyria.com\/en\/127181\/","title":{"rendered":"Fires devastate Syria’s Latakia as over 15,000 hectares of forests burn"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Safaa Suleiman<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

LATAKIA, Syria (North Press) \u2013 <\/strong>At the start of July, a series of massive fires broke out in the countryside of Latakia, western Syria, destroying more than 15,000 hectares of agricultural and forest land, according to Emergency and Disaster Management Minister Raed al-Saleh. Despite ongoing containment efforts, the fires continue to burn in various locations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the hardest-hit areas are the towns of Kassab, al-Atirah, Qastal Ma’af, Point 45, and the forests of al-Furloq\u2014some of Syria\u2019s most important natural woodlands. These areas are suffering severe environmental damage and had long been popular tourist destinations for visitors from across Syria and abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Friday, al-Saleh and Latakia Governor Mohammad Othman received firefighting teams arriving from northeastern Syria to assist Civil Defense forces in combating the fires in the Latakia countryside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a statement, the Latakia Governorate said the minister and governor expressed their deep appreciation for this national initiative, which reflects the spirit of solidarity and unity among Syrians in the face of disaster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Environmental, economic disaster<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Beyond the environmental devastation, residents of the affected areas are also grappling with a major economic crisis, as most rely on agriculture for their livelihoods. The fires have consumed hundreds of acres of olive, walnut, and citrus trees, leaving many without a source of income, according to local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rajab Ali Musalli, a resident of Qastal Ma’af, told North Press, “The town of Qastal Maaf mainly relies on agriculture, olive, apple, and lemon groves. They are all gone. Nothing remains.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I had 15 dunums of land planted with olive, apple, and pear trees. Unfortunately, everything was burned to the ground. We depended on it as a primary source of income,” he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also noted that Qastal Ma’af had been a tourist destination, but after the fires, there is no tourism left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mohammad Kouli, another resident, said it was small at first, but by evening it had spread to the village.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added that the next day the fires reignited in the villages of al-Khalidiyah and al-Wadi, burning down the orchards completely. “Everything burned\u2014the orchards, the homes. The fires spread everywhere.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kouli said he had ten dunums planted with olive, almond, and citrus trees. “Everything was completely destroyed. This is the situation, and the fires are still ongoing.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fires spread<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Kouli noted that the fires are still burning and have reached as far as Kassab. Some houses near the village were also damaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ahmad Yazji, a board member of the Civil Defense, told North Press, “Today marks the tenth day since the fires broke out in the Latakia countryside. A large portion of the fires has been brought under control.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He explained that two major fire hotspots remain. “The first is on steep slopes that are inaccessible to both personnel and machinery. The second area also has steep terrain but is additionally littered with landmines as it was formerly a military zone containing remnants of war.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said that the explosions heard from time to time are caused by leftover ordnance, which in turn contributes to the spread of the fires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe successfully contained the fire along the Kassab road. As a precaution, we evacuated civilians from the area before the flames reached neighboring regions,\u201d Yazji added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He confirmed that no civilian injuries have been reported so far and that the fire extending into nearby areas has been extinguished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll teams are on full alert,\u201d he continued. \u201cWe\u2019re working around the clock. All firefighting units are in a state of full mobilization, continuing efforts day and night.\u201d He also noted that calmer winds in recent hours had helped slow the spread of the fires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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