Lebanon forest fires rage on

[Pastor Dale Morgan]

Perilous Times and Climate Change

Lebanon forest fires rage on


Mon Dec 6, 2010 8:54PM


Serena Shim, Press TV, Babda



Firefighters in Lebanon have been battling the worst forest fires in years that have raged out of control over the past week.

The civil defense services said 42 separate blazes were reported with fires now threatening villages north of the capital Beirut.

At least 150,000 square meters of woodland have been devastated. Senior Lebanese officials have visited the affected areas where numerous fires have forced the frightened people to flee from their homes.

The residents expressed dissatisfaction with Lebanese firefighters handling the situation and their inability to put out the fires.

Lebanese government officials held a meeting presided over by Prime Minister Saad Hariri to discuss the situation.

But regardless of whether or not such measures are taken this is what now looks like in Lebanese forest areas. The cause of these blazes remains unknown but Lebanon's Interior Minister Ziad Baroud said that 120 fires in a single day raised serious questions over the possibility of man-made fires.
But others say that this natural disaster could be the result of the severe water shortage Lebanon has witnesses this year. Lebanon's farmers say they have not even been able to plant their crops as the soil has been very dry and not good enough for harvest.

The fires have claimed no lives, but a number of civil defense personnel have been injured. The blazes are considered another blow to Lebanon's environmental sector which many believe suffers from the neglect of the state to preserve what is left of Lebanon's forest areas.