Massive wildfires have ravaged Syria’s coastal mountain region of Jabal Turkman since Thursday, destroying thousands of hectares of forest and overwhelming emergency services. The fires, which have burned along a 20-kilometer line, have cut off roads, forced thousands to flee their homes, and left some areas without power.
Abdel Kafi Kayyal, director of civil defense in Lattakia province, described the situation as extremely difficult, citing strong winds, rugged terrain, and the danger of landmines left behind from years of war as major challenges in controlling the fires.
“The fire is extremely difficult,” Kayyal told CNN on Saturday, adding that reinforcements have been called in from across the country. Despite the efforts of more than 60 firefighting units, the fires have now spread into parts of Tartous province. Syrian authorities have appealed for international assistance, and Turkey has sent two helicopters and 11 firefighting vehicles to aid in the efforts. Jordanian civil defense teams have also crossed the border to join the fight against the fires.
Satellite data from NASA’s FIRMS service indicates that the burned area now exceeds 180 square kilometers, an area larger than the capital, Damascus. According to Syrian government figures from 2023, the country’s forest cover stands at around 5,270 square kilometers, suggesting that these fires have consumed more than 3% of the country’s total forested land in just three days.
The country is also in the grip of a long-running drought, with the Carnegie Endowment Middle East program reporting that the entire Euphrates Basin region has suffered from low rainfall and exceptionally high temperatures for four years.
The fires come as Syria’s new government tries to drive the country’s recovery after more than a decade of war and crippling sanctions, with basic services non-existent in many parts of the country.
The international community has responded to the crisis, with Turkey and Jordan providing critical support to Syria’s firefighting efforts. As the situation continues to unfold, the full extent of the damage and the impact on Syria’s environment and infrastructure remain to be seen.