Forest fires ravage northern Morocco

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The north of Morocco has been affected since Sunday by forest fires, favored by strong heat and wind. Several regions of the country have recorded temperatures of up to 49 ° C in recent days.

After Greece, Turkey and Algeria, the north of Morocco is in turn affected by forest fires. Monday, August 16, firefighters were fighting for the second consecutive day against these fires, fueled by high heat and persistent winds.

The changing winds “do not help to control the fire,” said the regional director of the Department of Water and Forests in Chefchaouen, Rachid El-Anzi. According to him, 200 hectares of forests had already been destroyed by late Sunday evening.

“No casualties are to be deplored, priority having been given to preventing the spread of fire to inhabited areas,” he added.

The firefighting teams notably benefited from the support of four water bombers.

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Up to 49 ° C in some areas

The causes of these fires are not yet known, specified Rachid El-Anzi, estimating that the strong heat and the winds could constitute triggers.

Several regions of the kingdom have recorded temperatures of up to 49 ° C since Friday, according to the meteorology department. High temperatures accompanied by winds were expected until Monday in several regions of Morocco.

An “exceptional” heat wave between July 9 and 11 had already “favored the outbreak of twenty fires” in the kingdom, burning 1,200 hectares of forests, according to the Department of Water and Forests.

The Mediterranean basin has been affected in the past two weeks by fires, especially in Greece, Turkey and Algeria. In the latter country, more than 90 people have died or gone missing since last Monday in the fires.

Sunday evening, an official of the general direction of civil protection (DGPC) affirmed that most of the fires had finally been “under control” and did not represent “any more danger for the inhabitants”.

In the eastern Mediterranean, however, new fires broke out near Jerusalem in wooded areas and homes in several villages were evacuated, Israel police said.

With AFP