Wildfires in Latakia Countryside Out of Control: Evacuation Continues as Winds Hinder Firefighting Efforts

Latakia province has been witnessing one of the largest waves of wildfires this year for the past two days, as fires broke out in the areas of Qastal Ma'af, Rabi'ah, and Zinzaf, spreading rapidly due to strong winds and high temperatures, engulfing vast areas of forests, threatening villages and homes in the northern countryside.

The Syrian Ministry of Emergencies and Disaster Management, in coordination with civil defense teams and firefighting brigades, has launched comprehensive response operations, including sending reinforcements from various provinces, such as firefighting teams, engineering vehicles, and water supply vehicles, in an attempt to contain the fire described by the Minister of Emergencies, Raed Al-Saleh, as one of the most dangerous active fires in the country.

During a field tour conducted by Minister Al-Saleh along with Latakia Governor Mohammed Othman to the fire sites, he confirmed that the field teams are facing difficult and complex conditions, pointing out that the mountainous terrain and the presence of unexploded war remnants are hindering access to the fire spots, further complicating the situation.

Al-Saleh explained that emergency teams are currently dealing with more than 40 fires in 20 different areas, with a special focus on preventing the fires from reaching populated areas, emphasizing that it is still early to talk about "tangible results" due to the changing weather conditions, but he expressed hope for an improvement in the situation with the decrease in temperatures and wind speed during the night.

On his part, the Director of the Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate in Latakia, Abdelkafi Kayal, affirmed that the current priority of the efforts is to protect the residents, noting the evacuation of several villages including: Al-Ramadiyah, Beer Al-Qasab, Zinzaf, and Al-Basit, after the fire reached their surroundings.

Kayal pointed out that firefighting operations face major challenges, including landmines, unexploded ordnance, and difficulty in reaching ignition areas.

He called for mobilizing all resources and uniting efforts among state institutions, urging civilians to cooperate with the field teams, report any fires, and refrain from igniting fires in forests to avoid a recurrence of the disaster.

Meanwhile, the Director of the Northern Region, Mustafa Joulha, explained that the fire started from the village of Al-Imam, then spread due to a change in wind direction to Saraya, Tarbajq, Al-Halwah, and the Al-Basit junction, resulting in the closure of the main road to Al-Basit town, while firefighting teams are deployed on three main axes: Ballouran, Al-Basit, and Qastal Ma'af.

Joulha mentioned that support is expected from the Turkish side in the coming hours, which will contribute to local efforts in containing the fire.

So far, two minor injuries have been recorded and treated, with no fatalities reported at the moment.

All eyes remain on Latakia, as emergency teams and concerned authorities continue the race against time to confront one of the fiercest wildfires of the summer of 2025, amid environmental and field challenges that threaten the expansion of the fire area if not swiftly contained.