Massive Wildfire Scorches 725 Hectares in Morocco’s Chefchaouen Region Amid Heatwave

Several regions of the kingdom have been recording temperatures of up to 49 degrees since Friday, according to the Meteorology Department, reports the MAP, stating that since Saturday, the Chefchaouen region has been affected by forest fires.

"Efforts are continuing non-stop to contain the fires that started on Saturday afternoon," said the regional director of the Department of Water and Forests in Chefchaouen, Rachid El-Anzi, adding that "no victims are to be deplored. Priority has been given to preventing the spread of the fire to inhabited areas."

About 520 elements from the Water and Forests, Civil Protection, Auxiliary Forces, Royal Armed Forces and Royal Gendarmerie, as well as local authorities, are still mobilized to bring this fire under control.

The fire has so far ravaged nearly 725 hectares of forest massifs, composed mainly of cork oaks and pines, El-Anzi said.

An investigation has been opened to determine the causes of the fire.