Fire erupts in northern Lebanon as winds fuel spread

By Iyad Nabolsi and Rania Abu Shamala

ISTANBUL (AA) - A fire broke out late Wednesday in a forested area of a northern Lebanese town, with fast-moving winds causing flames to spread.

Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) said the fire “erupted in the Shir Enemer area of the forests in the town of Akkar El-Atiqah.”

It added, “Civil defense vehicles arrived at the scene, but the unusually strong winds have significantly widened the fire’s spread.”

Mayor Mohammad Khalil appealed for the deployment of additional equipment to help contain the blaze “before the flames consume everything—green and dry alike,” it reported.

The news agency added that “strong winds in the Akkar region caused severe damage to forest resources, uprooting trees and bringing them down onto vehicles on public roads. Water tanks and solar panels were also torn off rooftops and blown away.”​​​​​​​

A Khamsin low-pressure system struck several Arab countries Wednesday, including Lebanon, bringing sandstorms, strong winds and occasional thunderstorms, while similar winds contributed to the rapid spread of wildfires in Israel.