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Rabat – Since Wednesday evening, an ongoing wildfire has been ravaging Taza’s national forest, destroying over 180 hectares of forest and farming fields.
Residents in Boukarba, located 20 kilometers southwest of Taza province feared that the raging fire was getting close to local houses, but local authorities were able to contain the wildfire with the help of three Canadair amphibious planes.
In response to the blaze, Moroccan authorities mobilized over 400 people, including members of the country’s Civil Protection, Auxiliary Forces, and Royal Gendarmerie, as well as local authorities. Local residents also helped authorities contain and extinguish the fire.
Hassan Maazouz, the regional director of Waters and Forests in the Fez-Meknes region, said that initial assessments indicated that the fire has destroyed “at least 185 hectares of forest cover,” adding that authorities are still assessing the damage.
According to local media, some people were hospitalized, but no casualties have been recorded. Authorities are still battling the wildfire.
Read also: The World on Fire: Heatwaves Scorching the Globe
While the causes and circumstances of the fire remain unknown, many believe that the heatwave that is currently sweeping across Morocco is a factor. Strong winds are also thought to have facilitated the outbreak and spread of the fire.
Since last week, Morocco was hit by a heatwave that has brought record temperatures, ranging between 42 and 46 degrees Celsius, to several provinces, including Taza.
Last year, hot summer weather sparked the outbreak of 20 coinciding fires, burning over 1,200 hectares of forest. The fires occurred in the provinces of Al Hoceima, Sefrou, Taounate, Beni Mellal, Marrakech, Tangier, Khemisset, Ifrane, and Chefchaouen.
Experts expect that climate change and global warming are set to increase the frequency of extreme weather events, including heatwaves.
