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Fire destroys palm groves in Errachidia region
🇲🇦 Morocco /Disasters & Emergencies

Fire destroys palm groves in Errachidia region

From Hespress · () Arabic

Translated from Arabic, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • A large fire has devastated palm groves in the Oufous oasis in Morocco's Errachidia province.
  • The fire spread rapidly, destroying ancient palm trees and irrigation infrastructure.
  • Residents are calling for an urgent investigation into the recurring fires and for aerial firefighting support.

A devastating fire has ravaged the palm groves of the Oufous oasis in Morocco's Errachidia province. The blaze, which began Friday morning, spread with alarming speed, consuming vast areas of date palms and leaving behind a thick pall of smoke.

Ancient palm trees, some planted decades ago by ancestors and awaited by future generations, were reduced to ashes. The fire also severely damaged irrigation infrastructure and traditional watering channels. Local residents, using rudimentary methods, attempted to contain the flames before the arrival of firefighting teams from the Civil Protection, Royal Gendarmerie, and local authorities.

Strong winds exacerbated the situation, turning small embers into new fires. The crackling of burning palm fronds mixed with the cries of women and children as their livelihoods disappeared. A local source confirmed significant material losses, emphasizing that the extent is still being assessed.

The strange and painful thing at the same time is that this scene repeats every year.

— Mohamed Ouahiya, resident of Oufous oasisA resident described the recurring nature of the fires.

Residents expressed frustration, noting that such fires have become a recurring summer nightmare. "We extinguish today, and tomorrow we await the next fire. How long will this torment last?" asked one resident. Demands for an urgent and impartial investigation into the cause of these repeated fires are growing, with calls for the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Agency for the Development of Oasis and Argan Areas to take responsibility for protecting the oases.

There is an urgent plea for "Candair" water-bombing aircraft, as ground intervention alone is deemed insufficient against the rapid spread of the fire across the vast oasis. Firefighters and authorities are making significant efforts, but their resources appear limited against the intensity and scale of the blaze, with narrow oasis pathways hindering access. Every passing minute results in the loss of more palm trees.

We extinguish today, and tomorrow we await the next fire. How long will this torment last?

— Mohamed Ouahiya, resident of Oufous oasisA resident expressed deep frustration with the annual fires.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hespress in Arabic. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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