-
Turkey Sends Firefighting Teams to Assist Civil Defense in Extinguishing Fires in the Latakia Countryside
Turkish authorities today, Saturday, dispatched various firefighting teams to help combat the forest fires in Latakia Governorate, as part of the joint cooperation efforts between the two countries. The campaign includes two helicopters and 11 vehicles, among them firefighting trucks and three water supply trailers.
In this context, the Minister of Emergency and Civil Defense, Raed Al-Saleh, stated that the Ministry of Emergency held a field meeting with the Turkish side to coordinate interventions and ensure rapid response to the forest fires in the region. It was agreed to deploy the two helicopters, along with eight firefighting vehicles and three water supply trailers, within the framework of cooperation between the Syrian Ministry of Emergency and the Syrian Foreign Ministry with the Turkish side, to ensure the readiness of firefighting teams, exchange field information, and enhance efficiency in dealing with the fires.
The minister pointed out that firefighters face significant challenges due to rough terrain, difficulty accessing some areas because of unpaved roads and forests, limited water sources, remnants of war and landmines in the region, along with high winds and rising temperatures, which sometimes lead to the re-ignition of flames.
Al-Saleh emphasized that the ministry is closely monitoring the developments on the ground to protect citizens and preserve the vegetation cover, through coordination with other relevant ministries to confront the crisis.
Meanwhile, the Syrian “SANA” agency announced that the Civil Defense teams continue their efforts to extinguish fires in several villages and towns, including Kasrt Mqef, Kessab, Al-Bisout, Bayt al-Sib, Furnalq, Zaghrin, and Mount Turkmen in northern Latakia countryside, despite the intensification of wind speeds and the difficulty in reaching some areas.
In a previous statement, firefighting teams reported that more than 90% of the fires that broke out in the forests of Rihaniyah in Mount Turkmen and the towns of Kinsaba, Qanjara, and Daghmashliya in Latakia countryside had been extinguished. However, the summer season, with rising temperatures, dense trees, and strong winds, remains one of the biggest challenges facing firefighting efforts.
