Wildfires Devour Syria’s Coastal Forests as Firefighters Struggle to Contain Blazes

By Ahora Qadi

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Syrian firefighters and civil defense forces are battling extensive wildfires that erupted across vast forested areas in the Latakia governorate, amid high winds and hazardous terrain, forcing the evacuation of entire villages and threatening further devastation.

According to Syrian state media, wildfires broke out on Friday afternoon in multiple areas of rural Latakia, particularly from the town of Kassab to the Turkmen Mountain region. The fires, driven by strong winds and high temperatures, have consumed approximately 100 hectares of agricultural land planted with olive trees and dense forest.

Reports indicate that the blaze reached villages such as Kassab, Al-Atira, and Qastal Maaf, igniting fears among residents and causing widespread displacement.

Evacuations Amid Escalating Danger

Abdul-Kafi Kayyal, head of Latakia's Disaster and Emergency Directorate, confirmed to SANA that civil defense teams evacuated numerous families from the villages of Ramadiyah, Bir al-Qasab, Zunzuf, and Al-Basit as flames approached residential areas.

Kayyal said teams are focusing efforts on preventing the fire from reaching populated areas, noting the serious obstacles posed by unexploded ordnance and mines left from previous conflicts, which significantly hamper the ability to reach and suppress fire hotspots.

Explosives and Wind Hinder Suppression Efforts

“The presence of mines and unexploded projectiles, coupled with the rough terrain and strong winds, has made access to the fire zones extremely difficult,” Kayyal stated. He added that despite deploying firefighting helicopters, the challenging geography has delayed containment.

The Syrian Civil Defense confirmed that over 13 separate fires were extinguished within the last 24 hours, including blazes in fuel stations, industrial facilities, and commercial shops, in addition to forest fires. However, large blazes in areas like Jahannam valley, Kurd Mountain (Çîyayê Kurmênc) and Turkmen Mountain remain active and under close surveillance.

International Highway Disrupted by Smoke and Fire

The wildfires have grown so intense that thick smoke forced the closure of the international highway connecting Latakia with the Turkish border, further complicating response efforts and endangering travelers.

Local authorities urged residents to avoid lighting fires near agricultural or forested lands and to refrain from discarding cigarette butts or glass containers that could ignite dry brush. Immediate reporting of any new fires is also encouraged to enable rapid response and minimize losses.

Call for Broader Support

As firefighting teams from surrounding provinces join efforts in Latakia, officials expressed hope that expanded support will help stabilize the situation. “Our priority now is to prevent the fires from advancing into more densely inhabited areas,” Kayyal emphasized.

While no casualties have been reported thus far, officials warned that continued spread of the wildfires poses serious environmental, agricultural, and humanitarian risks if not brought under control soon.