Wildfires in Several Regions as Civil Defense Warns over Heat Wave
Several wildfires erupted Sunday in many areas across Lebanon as the country started to be engulfed by a scorching heat wave.
In the Beirut suburb of Hadath, a blaze ripped through a forestland on the peripheries of the Lebanese University complex, state-run National News Agency said.
Residents were urging the Civil Defense to intervene and “prevent the spread of the flames to the nearby houses,” NNA said.
Meanwhile, a wildfire renewed in the forests of the Akkar town of Baino as temperatures soared in the region.
“Five firefighting vehicles from the Bizbina, Akkar al-Atiqa, al-Bireh and Deir Janine have headed to the location,” NNA said.
The flames were mainly raging in the Wadi Sahel forest, after a helicopter doused them two days ago, the agency added.
“A Lebanese army patrol has also inspected the location of the wildfires and a military helicopter will be dispatched to contribute to the firefighting efforts, given the inaccessibility of the site,” NNA said.
Also in the North, Civil Defense firefighters were struggling to extinguish flames that erupted in the outskirts of the Akkar town of Shikhlar, near the town of Minjez, Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5) said.
In the South governorate, crews from the Civil Defense, Lebanese army and the U.N. peacekeeping force were trying to put out a fire that had erupted in the morning in the outskirts of the Bint Jbeil District town of Ain Ibl, the agency reported.
The Civil Defense Directorate General had warned Saturday that the hot weather could contribute to the eruption of wildfires, urging citizens to be cautious and to avoid using fireworks and dumping garbage and glass bottles in forests.
The directorate cited a statement by the meteorological department of the Civil Aviation Administration that had warned that all Lebanese regions would be engulfed by a heat wave that would start Sunday and continue until mid-week.
Lebanon witnessed a similar heat wave in May.
Scorching temperatures are normal this time of year in the Middle East, but the current one has been described as unprecedented.
In Iraq, the unbearable heat prompted authorities to declare a mandatory four-day holiday.
Y.R.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/186292 |