TEHRAN (Tasnim) Syrian authorities, supported by Jordanian and Turkish teams, continue to combat massive wildfires that have destroyed tens of thousands of hectares of forests in Latakia province, describing the crisis as an unprecedented environmental catastrophe.
- World news -Syrian officials reported that around 100 square kilometers of forests have been reduced to ash in Latakia as firefighting operations entered their fourth consecutive day.
Emergency crews are confronting severe challenges, including extreme heat, strong winds, rugged terrain and the threat of unexploded ordnance left by years of foreign-backed conflict.
A correspondent in Latakias Rabiaa area observed firefighters working near residential areas while dense smoke covered large stretches of forest and olive groves.
Jordanian civil defense teams arrived Sunday morning after crossing the border, a day after Turkey dispatched assistance, according to Syrias emergencies and disaster management ministry.
Minister Raed al-Saleh stated that hundreds of thousands of forest trees over approximately 10,000 hectares in 28 separate locations have turned to ash, describing the situation as a real environmental disaster.
More than 80 firefighting teams, including civil defense personnel, local organizations, and volunteers, have joined the response, along with aircraft deployed by Syria, Jordan and Turkey.
The Syrian defense ministry confirmed that air force helicopters were dropping water on the affected areas, sharing images of the operations.
Jordans public security directorate announced that its specialized teams had been equipped with modern tools to fulfil their mission effectively.
Large expanses of forest and farmland have been destroyed, forcing evacuations of several villages near the Turkish border.
UN deputy envoy to Syria Najat Rochdi emphasized that Damascus requires more international support to contain the crisis, while the UN humanitarian coordinator Adam Abdelmoula said teams were conducting urgent assessments to determine priority needs.
Years of war, combined with the impact of climate change, have left Syria increasingly vulnerable to such disasters, with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization noting that the country has not experienced such severe climatic conditions in six decades.
