Rabat: The operations to extinguish two wildfires in the north of Morocco are ongoing and in their final stages, an official said Saturday. The official from the National Agency for Water and Forests, who preferred not to be named, highlighted the efforts being made to control the situation.

According to Anadolu Agency, the fires broke out on Friday in two forests, one situated between Chefchaouen and Tetouan, and the other between Chefchaouen and Al Hoceima. The fires erupted amid soaring temperatures, with the General Directorate of Meteorology having previously warned of a heat wave, pushing temperatures up to 46°C (114.8°F) in several regions of the kingdom, expected to last for several days.

The official reported that the fires have burned an estimated eight hectares so far, according to preliminary figures. Canadair amphibious firefighting aircraft have been deployed to assist in extinguishing the blaze.

In July, authorities had alerted residents living near forests about the risk of wildfires, urging maximum caution and vigilance. On May 16, the government announced an allocation of approximately $17 million to enhance wildfire-fighting efforts during the summer of 2025.

Abderrahim Houmy, the agency's director general, stated in May that the number of fires recorded in 2024 reached 382, marking an 82% decrease compared to 2023. He added that wildfires in 2024 burned about 874 hectares, with secondary grass and seasonal plants accounting for roughly 45% of the affected areas.

Forests cover about 12% of Morocco's territory and experience fires of varying intensity each year, influenced by climatic conditions and human activity.