Tunisia Battles Two Major Wildfires in Kef Governorate with International Aid

Firefighting operations continue in Tunisia's Kef governorate as emergency services work to extinguish two wildfires that have been burning for several days. The blazes, one in the Touila mountain and another in the Tékrouna mountain, have ravaged hundreds of hectares of forest and vegetation.

Khalil Mechri, head of operations at the Civil Protection Directorate, reported that the fire on Mount Touila started on July 22, while the Mount Tékrouna fire began on July 20. These incidents are part of a larger pattern, with 92 forest fires recorded across Tunisia since July 11, all of which have been contained except for these two in Kef.

“

The two fires have ravaged hundreds of hectares of forest and vegetation.

To combat the fires, multiple units of the Civil Protection, supported by 22 fire trucks, are engaged in intensive efforts. Resources from various ministries and local authorities have been mobilized, with the Ministry of National Defense providing crucial air support. Firefighting trucks from other governorates have also been dispatched to reinforce the operations in Kef.

Adding to the international cooperation, an Italian Civil Protection water-bombing aircraft is participating in the extinction efforts. Security authorities have launched investigations into the causes of the fires, which coincide with a severe heatwave and sirocco winds across the country. Mechri urged citizens to adhere to prevention rules and report any new fires immediately to help preserve the nation's forest heritage.

“

All have been mastered, with the exception of the two fires in progress in Kef.