BEIRUT, Oct 17 (NNN-NNA) – For the third consecutive day, Lebanon’s civil defence, in cooperation with the Lebanese army, worked hard to put out the huge fire that swept a big number of Lebanese villages.
Fire continued on Wednesday, to affect hundreds of square metres in Akkar, Yanouh, Daqoun, Bekfaya and other villages.
Earlier, Lebanese President, Michel Aoun, announced that, the Higher Relief Commission had been instructed to compensate people affected by the fire.
Prime Minister, Saad Hariri, said, the government exerts huge efforts to put out the fire, while the Higher Relief Commission will take care of all houses impacted by the fire.
“We are working 24 hours a day and the most important thing for me is that, there were no casualties,” he said.
However, the Lebanese people criticised the government, through social media networks, for not providing civil defence with the needed equipment to deal properly with such disastrous situations.
They also blamed the government for not taking precautionary measures, after the sudden rise of temperature, to avoid the fire and the damage.
Youssef Mallah, a member of the civil defence, said that, precautionary measures must be taken in such weather conditions.
“For instance, we should not allow hunters to shoot from their weapons during such times,” explaining that, shots from hunters’ guns have a hot temperature and may cause fire when they fall on the ground.
Mallah emphasised the need to hire patrols to tour the place all night long, while finding special routes for firefighters to reach the fire in a fast way and not to use conventional roads.
Meanwhile, Lebanese lawmakers also voiced their concern about the absence of a plan by the government to deal with such serious situations.
Simon Abi Ramia, a member of parliament, criticised the government for neglecting maintenance of three firefighting helicopters, purchased by Lebanon in 2009.
Lebanon asked for help from Cyprus and Greece which sent their jets to help Lebanese firefighters put out the fire.
Thousands of square metres of forests have been destroyed in more than 132 massive fire in several towns and villages in Lebanon, since Monday night, resulting in one death and the injury of 178.
Raymond Khattar, director general of the Lebanese Civil Defence (Fire Department), said, these are the worst fire in Lebanon in decades, the country has not witnessed a disaster of such magnitude for years.– NNN-NNA
