Northern Lebanon ravaged by major forest fires

Forest fires ravage part of Lebanon, Thursday July 29, 2021. This is Akkar province.

© Hussein Malla / AP

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

After a lull of a few hours, the fire resumed Friday evening, July 30 in northern Lebanon, still reeling from the gigantic fires which devastated a large area, killing one and injuring dozens.

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With our correspondent in Beirut,

Paul Khalifeh

The images are strong.

As far as the eye can see, wooded hills and orchards are smoldering ashes.

These are arguably the most devastating fires in northern Lebanon, the country's greenest region.

The flames spread to the eastern plain of the Bekaa and into Syria itself.

Civil defense and Syrian helicopters intervened to contain the fires.

State failure brought to light

On the Lebanese side, hundreds of firefighters and volunteers, supported by four army helicopters, fought against these gigantic fires, favored by strong winds and dry weather.

After 48 hours of efforts, the most important outbreaks were contained in the north of the country.

But fires resumed Friday evening in some areas.

This is so heartbreaking 💔🇱🇧 # لبنان_يحترق # لبنان pic.twitter.com/G58St43xVx

- Shiraz ☆ شيراز (@ShirazLb) July 30, 2021

This new disaster that hits Lebanon once again highlights the shortcomings of a failed state.

Fire warning mechanisms are almost non-existent and fire fighting resources insufficient.

The hashtag "

Lebanon is on fire

" has been shared thousands of times by Internet users dismayed to see the greenest regions of the country turned into blazes.

►Also read: A forest fire kills several people in southern Turkey

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  • Lebanon

  • Natural disasters

  • Environment