Death toll update | Wildfires in Latakia, Homs and Tartus countryside leave four dead and over 80 injured
Imams perform "Istisqaa prayer" in Syria's mosques, as regime authorities are unable to extinguish forest fires
As more civilian died due to the ongoing fires in the Syrian coastline, the number of deaths has risen to four, while the number of injured cases has jumped to 80, all suffered from suffocation. Meanwhile, SOHR activists have reported ongoing blazes in the forests of the eastern foothills overlooking Ballouran dam in the northern countryside of Latakia, and Al-Baseet area in rural latakia, where the entire forests and farmlands in the area from Al-Baseet mountains to the seashore have been completely burnt down.
On the other hand, locals and fire brigades managed to extinguish some fires in the areas of Al-Sukariyyah, Al-Manarah, Al-Baseet in Latakia countryside, Jabal Hamad, Zaghrin, Jininat Raslan in the eastern countryside of Tartus, the villages of Habnamarah, Al-Jewaykhat, Burj Al-Maksur, Al-Muzaynah and Wadi Jamous in western countryside of Homs.
Moreover, nearly 150 villages and towns in Latakia countryside, including areas in Jablah, Al-Qardaha, Al-Haffah and Latakia, have suffered significant damage due to the fires which have been inflaming since yesterday, while thousands of the residents of these areas have been displaced towards Latakia city fleeing the sick smoke and the broad spread of fires.
Also, the people of tens of villages in Homs and Tartus countryside have been displaced to safer places.
On the other hand, “Istisqa prayer” (a prayer performed in supplication to Allah for rain) has been performed in mosques in regime-held areas, as the Syrian regime authorities are unable to extinguish and contain these fires, especially since these fires extended to civilian houses due to the strong wind.
SOHR sources reported a few hours ago outbreak of new fires which burnt down the whole village of Basout in Al-Qardaha countryside, after the village had been evacuated. These fires coincides with ongoing fires in Al-Qardaha mountains, Al-Haffah area in Latakia countryside, several areas in the bushes and orchards of “Mashta Al-Helow” in Tartus countryside to the mountains and bushes of Oyoun Al-Wadi area in Homs countryside.
SOHR sources reported earlier this afternoon that wildfires devoured tens of kilometers of farmlands and bushes in different areas in Latakia, Tartous and Homs, amid almost full inability by regime authorities to extinguish and contain these fires, especially since these fires extended to civilian houses due to the strong wind.
In this context, reliable SOHR sources confirmed that Beit Arkoush village in Mashta Al-Holow in Tartous countryside was completely burnt, along with the spread of fires to other villages.
Moreover, blazes broke out in Al-Jewaykhat village in Ain Al-Wadi area in the western countryside of Homs, devouring large spaces of orchards, farmlands and civilian houses.
The blazes in Baniyas also caused considerable damage to greenhouses and burnt down large number of residential houses, amid fears of the spread of fires to other houses.
Meanwhile, fires continued in the villages of Ballouran, Zaghrin and Um Al-Toyour, near Latakia-Kasab highway.
Furthermore, wildfires continued in several villages in Qardaha countryside, Al-Hafsah and the far countryside of Jablah, on the administrative border with Qardaha. On the other hand, several families were displaced towards Latakia city because of the sick smoke and spread of fires which led to the burning down of warehouses affiliated to the “tobacco public institution” in Qardaha city.
SOHR activists also reported that the Syrian regime authorities evacuated Al-Basel hospital in Al-Qardaha city and transported all patients to the hospital in Jabla city, as fires approach.