Rabat – Three members of the General Directorate of Civil Protection died on Monday when their vehicle fell into a ravine during a rescue attempt in the province of M’diq-Fnideq in northern Morocco.
Two other rescuers were seriously injured during the incident, local authorities in the province said.
Local services transferred the injured victims to a special care unit in Tangier to receive the necessary medical attention.
A forest fire broke out in the province on Monday, leaving both authorities and citizens in the region reeling from the effects.
Services mobilized human resources and logistical equipment to put out the fire. A firefighter jet was also used.
The fire has so far caused the loss of about 90 hectares of forest, and efforts are ongoing to put out the fire that has been obliterating large chunks of land and other properties of locals.
Preliminary investigations led to the arrest of four individuals suspected of having started the fire.
The suspects are in custody, pending further investigations to determine the circumstances surrounding the case.
Morocco has in the past weeks witnessed a series of wildfires in several regions, including Ouezzane, Taza, and Tetouan, among others
While drought and high temperatures are widely believed to have contributed to the fires, human actions are also considered to be a leading factor in the majority of forest fire cases.
In July, environmental expert Said Chakri said that natural causes amounted to less than 5% of the total fires, while human error is believed to have contributed to the majority of fires reported across Morocco in recent weeks.
Human error includes throwing cigarette butts, lighting fires, and cooking, among many other reasons.
