The Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management, Raed Saleh, has announced that discussions are underway with the European Union for assistance in combating the ongoing wildfires in the countryside of Latakia, which have persisted for six days. He highlighted that firefighting aircraft from Cyprus are set to assist today in extinguishing the flames.
In statements made today to a Syrian news channel, the minister noted that strong winds contributed to the spread of the fires to the village of Al-Ghussaniyah, located in northern Latakia. He confirmed that civil defense teams successfully evacuated women and children and managed to suppress the fire with support from local youth, who collaborated closely with the emergency teams.
The Minister further shared that teams from Turkey and Jordan are participating in the firefighting efforts, alongside aerial support from Turkish, Jordanian, Lebanese, and Syrian planes. A total of 16 aircraft were involved in firefighting operations yesterday, and this number may increase to 20 today.
He emphasized that the top priority is the safety of civilians, noting that, to date, there have been no recorded fatalities, despite the fire spreading to multiple locations. However, there have been 10 injuries among civil defense personnel, primarily due to smoke inhalation.
The Minister explained that the weather conditions significantly exacerbate the firefighting challenges, compounded by a lack of firebreaks in the mountainous regions, the neglect of forests, and the presence of dry wood. Additionally, leftover wartime explosives are hindering full control and containment of the fire.
The wildfires in the northern countryside of Latakia have been ongoing since the 3rd of this month, reaching the Sheikh Hassan area in the Kessab region today, as firefighting teams strive to contain them and prevent further expansion.