Ongoing efforts to control major fire in Hayzouq, Akkar

NORTH LEBANON — Civil defense teams are attempting to control a major fire that broke out Monday in a forest near the locality of Hayzouq, in the Akkar region of northern Lebanon, according to information from our correspondent in the area.

Fanned by strong winds currently sweeping the region, the flames quickly spread up the mountain overlooking the locality and are threatening to reach homes and agricultural lands, our correspondent reports.

Efforts continue on the ground, with the arrival of civil defense volunteers from more than six different centers, assisted by local residents. A statement from the agricultural monitoring platform of the Darb Akkar ecological association reveals alarming indicators regarding the fire's behavior due to the current weather conditions along the Oudin Valley, from the locality of Shadra, through Andaqit and Qobeiyat, up to Akkar al-Atiqa. All indicators have reached a very dangerous level, and computer simulations show extreme and uncontrollable behavior for any fire that could break out in this region, the association warns.

The Darb Akkar association has called on regional municipalities to be extremely vigilant and has asked them to report any outbreak of fire, even a minor one, immediately, our correspondent reports.