Ankara: Moroccan authorities on Saturday successfully extinguished forest fires that erupted in the northern province of Tetouan and the central region of Taroudant. The fires, which ignited on Friday, ravaged approximately 12 hectares (30 acres) of forest area. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported.

According to Anadolu Agency, the National Agency for Water and Forests was instrumental in controlling the blazes. An official from the agency, who sought anonymity due to lack of authorization to speak to the media, disclosed that both Canadair amphibious aircraft and an EC225 helicopter were deployed to aid ground firefighting efforts.

The fires caused significant damage, with the Taroudant fire consuming roughly 8 hectares (20 acres) and the Tetouan blaze affecting around 4 hectares (10 acres) of forest cover. This incident forms part of a larger trend, as the agency reported a total of 310 forest fires in Morocco since the beginning of the year up to July 20, burning an estimated 1,850 hectares (4,572 acres) of forest land.

Morocco's proactive measures include an early warning system run by the National Agency for Water and Forests, which evaluates wildfire risks and disseminates alerts based on weather and vegetation conditions. The system's highest level of risk, indicated by a red alert, and a high-risk level marked by an orange alert necessitate heightened preventive actions and caution against potential fire-starting activities.

These warnings were supported by an alert from the General Directorate of Meteorology, which predicted a severe heat wave with temperatures potentially soaring to 46C (114.8F) across various regions, exacerbating wildfire risks.