The fire that broke out at 3 PM yesterday at the Hararat al-Qatliba junction in the Akkar area continues to rage, with flames spreading due to strong winds, reaching the Al-Louqa hill that contains the largest pine forest in Lebanon. Eyewitnesses confirmed that the fire started very small, but due to negligence and the wind’s speed, it expanded massively into the woods, reaching even homes, where a nearby house was completely burned. The fire reached Mount Akroum, destroying existing trees, and civil defense vehicles are working with the Lebanese Army, which has deployed special aircraft to extinguish the fire before it spreads further and threatens the lives of residents in nearby villages and towns. Local residents and associations in the area are also participating in fighting the ongoing flames.
The Lebanese Red Cross mentioned that it evacuated 17 people who were trapped by the fire in the area, while two individuals were transported to the hospital, and six others were treated on-site. A volunteer, Amin M., sadly died from injuries sustained after falling on his head while assisting in extinguishing the flames in the town of Kfar-Toun.
The director-general of the civil defense, Brigadier Raymond Kattar, confirmed that the fire in the Qbayyat area is very large and stated, "We have sent vehicles from Beirut, Qbayyat, Halba, and the Bekaa, about 15 vehicles in total, and requested support from the army, urging tanker owners to assist us in transporting water." He added, "Such fires take days to extinguish, and we are doing all we can within the available resources to control it." Reports indicate that communications are being made with Cyprus for additional aerial assistance.
