Closure of Kasab Border Crossing between Syria and Turkey Due to Forest Fires Approaching the Area
Syrian authorities announced on Saturday, July 12, the temporary closure of the Kasab border crossing with Turkey due to the wildfires raging in the Syrian coastal mountains and their proximity to the border area.
Mazen Aloush, the Public Relations Director at the Syrian General Authority for Land and Maritime Border Crossings, posted a notice on his "X" platform account for travelers through the crossing, stating: "Please be informed that the Kasab border crossing has been temporarily closed from the Turkish side due to the wildfires spreading in the coastal mountains and approaching the border area." He added: "We ask for your understanding of this emergency measure, and we pray for the safety of our people in the countryside of Latakia, for the fires to be extinguished, and for the harm to be lifted from everyone."
Syrian Civil Defense teams faced significant challenges in combating the fires engulfing the forests of Latakia countryside, especially in three main areas: Burj Zahia, Fernalk Forests, and the Nabae Al-Murr area near Kasab city. The Civil Defense noted in a Facebook post that "there are significant difficulties on the ground in facing the Latakia forest fires due to the intensity of the winds," which led to the re-ignition of flames and the spread of embers over long distances beyond the firebreak lines.
The wind force on Friday led to the renewed spread and expansion of the fires despite the teams managing to stop the fire's extension, especially on the Nabae Al-Murr axis near Kasab, which is one of the most challenging axes where teams face the spread of fires."
More than 150 teams from the Syrian Civil Defense and firefighting teams, in addition to support teams from Turkey and Jordan, are participating in firefighting efforts, supported by 300 firefighting vehicles and dozens of logistical vehicles. Heavy engineering equipment is being used to divide the forests into sectors and open roads for firefighting teams.
In the air, 16 firefighting aircraft from Syria, Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon are participating in aerial firefighting operations, as part of a joint coordination to contain the disaster.
The Civil Defense confirmed that the working teams are distributed at dozens of points in an axis extending from Qastal Ma'af towards Kasab, where they are working on establishing firebreak lines, cooling down extinguished areas, and monitoring any active fire spots.
It is worth mentioning that the area faces additional challenges due to the presence of mines and war remnants, hindering the movement of firefighting teams in rugged terrains that are difficult to access.
