Wildfire breaks out in South Lebanon

BEIRUT — A wildfire broke out Friday in a forest near Saida, South Lebanon, amid warnings of increased fire risk, L'Orient Today's correspondent in the area reported.

Rescue teams have been trying to extinguish the fire in the al-Bahiliya forests in the town of al-Kharaib, south of Saida, since the early morning but the fire has continued to spread, according to our correspondent. 

Caretaker Environment Minister Nasser Yassin warned in a statement Friday morning that Lebanon faces increased fire risk as the country witnesses "hot and dry weather accompanied by strong winds."

Yassin said regions in North Lebanon, South Lebanon, Akkar, Baalbeck and the western Bekaa will be particularly affected by "the danger of rapidly spreading fires today."

He called on citizens to avoid starting fires "in areas adjacent to forests and forests for any reason, and to immediately report any source of fire near or inside the forests," so that authorities can intervene to prevent the spread of fire, "which poses a threat to public safety and the environment in general."

Lebanon’s wildfire season usually begins later in the year, but the country has already experienced wildfires in 2023, including a major blaze in the north in March that first responders struggled to control.

The north and Akkar are particularly prone to forest fires and are home to large swaths of forested areas. Civil Defense teams and volunteer groups often intervene to extinguish fires but face shortages of equipment due to Lebanon's economic crisis.

Additional reporting by Muntasser Abdallah