Baghdad: Syrian relief teams are working to evacuate residential areas in Latakia Governorate due to massive forest fires, according to Syrian authorities. For days, fires have been raging across large areas of Syria, particularly in the coastal region, while firefighters are facing difficulties in controlling them due to high winds and severe drought.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Director of the Disaster and Emergency Directorate in Latakia Governorate, Abdul Kafi Kayyal, reported that the fires in the Qastal Maaf area have spread to populated villages, prompting firefighting teams and civil defense personnel to evacuate them.

The Syrian Civil Defense issued a warning to residents “that smoke emissions are reaching the northern part of the coastal mountains, the city of Hama and its countryside, and areas south of Idlib.”

The Civil Defense stated that “our teams have recorded losses in fruit tree fields due to the widespread forest fires in several areas of the Latakia countryside,” calling on residents to “inform security authorities about those who deliberately set fires in forested areas.”

With the increasing likelihood of drought and forest fires worldwide due to human activities, Syria has been experiencing heat waves, declining rainfall, and massive forest fires for years.