UN teams deploy to Syrian coast as wildfires force hundreds to flee
U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria Adam Abdelmoula said in a statement that the fast-spreading blazes in the northwestern province of Latakia 'have forced hundreds of families to flee their homes, while vast tracts of agricultural land and vital infrastructure have been destroyed.'
U.N. teams are 'conducting urgent assessments to determine the scale of the disaster and to identify the most immediate humanitarian needs,' he said.
Firefighting teams from Turkey and Jordan have joined Syrian civil defense teams, providing support from the air with helicopters. Syria's state-run SANA news agency reported that emergency crews are attempting to prevent the blazes from reaching the al-Frunloq natural reserve, with its 'large, interconnected forests.'
Syrian Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh called the situation 'extremely tragic.'
In a statement posted on X, he said the fires had destroyed 'hundreds of thousands of trees' covering an area estimated at 10,000 hectares.
'We regret and mourn every tree that burned, which was a source of fresh air for us,' al-Saleh said.
The Syrian Civil Defense had expressed concerns over the presence of unexploded ordnance left over from the country's nearly 14-year civil war in some of the wildfire areas.
Summer fires are common in the eastern Mediterranean region, where experts warn that climate change is intensifying conditions.
Below-average rainfalls over the winter have also left Syrians struggling with water shortages this summer, as the springs and rivers that normally supply much of the population with drinking water have gone dry.
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BBC News
13 hours ago
- BBC News
Hankley Common habitat fears after wildlife sweeps through
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Daily Mail
18 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Summer-time revelry is set to continue as temperatures hit 30C as Britain records its third heatwave of the year
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The risk of wildfires in London is also currently rated at 'severe' by the Natural Hazards Partnership, while six million homes have been hit with a hosepipe ban as fire chiefs warn of the risk of drowning as people try to cool off in water. On top of the amber alerts, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has yellow warnings in place until Monday for the north east, north west and Yorkshire and Humber. And National Rail has also warned train passengers that the hot weather may continue to cause disruption today. Further north today, temperatures do begin to cool slightly with areas like Newcastle forecasted to hit a more manageable 22C. In Glasgow, this looks set to rise to 26C but along the M8 motorway to Edinburgh it is expected that this will drop to around 22C. Cardiff is also expected to be scorched again today with 30C forecast in the Welsh capital, while in Belfast temperatures could reach 26C. 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Relax and try to breathe normally. Move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat if you need to. It's fine if your legs sink – we all float differently. 'By doing this, you give yourself the chance to rest and recover your breathing. Once you've regained control of your breathing, you can call for help or swim to safety. 'Heading to the coast is a great way to have fun, relax and cool off in these high temperatures, but remembering this one piece of advice could save your life if you find yourself struggling in water. 'We also encourage people to choose a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags, which is the area most closely monitored by the lifeguards.' Next week's cooler temperatures looks set to mark the end of the third heatwave, and scientists warning the latest searing temperatures have been made 100 times more likely because of human-made climate change. They say heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change, and experts have warned heatwaves are 'silent killers', with the impacts of heat severely underestimated. They also say that the UK is unprepared for the rising risk of extremely hot conditions that climate change is bringing - especially earlier in the summer, when people are less acclimatised to coping with it. SCOTLAND: Lewis MacKay and Leia Paul from Muir of Ord take a cooling dip in Loch Ness on July 12, 2025 Dr Friederike Otto, associate professor at Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, previously said climate change was an 'absolute game-changer' for heat in Europe, making heat waves more frequent and more intense. 'Heat waves are called the silent killer, for a reason, every year thousands of people in Europe die due to extreme heat, particularly those that live in poorly insulated homes, on busy, polluted roads, and that already have health problems,' she said. 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Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Heatwave death warnings issued for England as temperatures soar towards 35C - while Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales all record warmest day of the year
A warning of heatwave-induced deaths has been issued across England as temperatures soared towards 35C, while Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all recorded their warmest day of the year. The warning comes as six million homes have been hit with a hosepipe ban and fire chiefs have warned of a increased risk of wildfires and drowning as people try to escape the heat in pools and ponds. The Met Office said Scotland's Aveimore hit 32.2C, with today the seventh time since at least 1961 that the same high has been recorded across the country. Meanwhile, a high of 30C was recorded in Magilligan, Ireland, while temperatures soared to 33.1C in Cardiff's Bute Park, beating the 2025 record set on Friday of 32.4C at the same location. Although England has been hot, with maximum temperatures also hitting 33.1C in Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire, it did not break the country's current record for the year of 35.8C - recorded in Kent at the beginning of July. Amber heat health alerts are in place for the Midlands and southern and eastern England until 9am on Monday, with warning of the potential for a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. Meanwhile, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has yellow alerts in place until Monday for the North East, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber. Fire chiefs have urged people to stay safe as they warned of the increased risk of wildfires and drowning during the heatwave. A man sunbathes on the grass at Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester as Amber heat health alerts are in place for the Midlands and southern and eastern England until 9am on Monday The risk of wildfires in London is currently rated at 'severe' by the Natural Hazards Partnership. This evening, firefighters in Surrey have been tackling a wildfire on Hankley Common in the small village of Thursley, spanning across approximately eight acres. Surrey Fire and Rescue Service have urge nearby residents to close windows and doors and also asked members of the public to otherwise avoid the area. The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has asked people not to enter water to try to cool down and urged parents and carers to ensure children are supervised around water at all times. Phil Garrigan, NFCC chairman, said: 'We are urging people to take simple but vital safety precautions to protect themselves and their loved ones during this period of hot, dry weather. 'Our experience tells us that wildfires can start in an instant and escalate rapidly. That's why we're asking everyone to stay alert and act responsibly.' Tennis fans have been struggling in the heat at Wimbledon for the past few days, with play experiencing brief disruptions as spectators needed medical assistance. When temperatures were forecast to rise on Saturday, the All England Club said it significantly increased the number of on-screen communications and push notifications to remind guests to stay hydrated and seek respite from the sun. The club also said service stewards on court have access to water for spectators in need, that on-site medical teams are ready to assist when required and that the grounds have more than 100 free water refill points as well as a pharmacy where guests can buy sunscreen. HM Coastguard also issued safety advice for people heading to the coast, as data from the water incident database shows most drownings occurred in July over the last three years. And National Rail has also warned train passengers that the hot weather may cause disruption this weekend, stating on their website that 'heat can cause overhead lines to expand and sag, rails to buckle, and also line-side fires'. The Met Office said that it will remain 'very warm' across the country on Sunday, though it will be a 'little cooler' than today. Chief Meteorologist Steve Willington said: 'Sunday looks like being a little cooler than Saturday, but 30°C is still likely across central and southern parts of England and eastern Wales, with locally 31°C possible.' Meanwhile, meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said that the hot weather was set to continue across the southeast of England on Monday. Mr Dewhurst added: 'It could still get to around 29 or 30C across southeast England on Monday, and then everyone into the fresher air by Tuesday, temperatures more like 23C, 24C as the maximum temperature.' The continued hot temperatures follow a second hosepipe ban introduced in Kent and Sussex with thousands of customers in Yorkshire already restricting their water usage. Those supplied by South East Water will not be able to use their hosepipes for any reason from July 18. The company said the region has endured its driest spring since 1893 and has had to supply up to 680million litres of water in 24 hours as temperatures soar. A spokesperson added: 'This situation has left us with no choice but to restrict the use of hosepipes and sprinklers, so we can help our reservoirs and underground water storage recover.' South East Water warned that it will prosecute those who disobey the ban by slapping them with fines of up to £1,000. A hosepipe ban began yesterday in areas supplied by Yorkshire Water, which has affected more than 5.7million homes in Yorkshire, Derbyshire and North Lincolnshire. Yorkshire Water placed the ban on the use of hosepipes for activities such as watering the garden, cleaning cars, filling paddling pools or ponds, or cleaning paths, walls or windows, in an attempt to protect water supplies in the face of yet more dry weather. Customers flouting the ban could face fines of up to £1,000, but the company has said 'we hope it won't come to that' as it urged households to help conserve water by sticking to the restrictions. The new ban comes after 80 firefighters were called to tackle a grass fire on Thursday in Rainham, Essex. The London Fire Brigade said it has responded to 24 wildfires this year, five of which occurred this week, including one in Manor Park, east London, on Friday afternoon, where 70 firefighters fought to tackle a grass fire on Wanstead Flats. 'Heat can cause overhead lines to expand and sag, rails to buckle, and also line-side fires,' it said on its website. Meanwhile, the RNLI warned beachgoers that, despite the heat, there is still a risk of cold water shock. Ross Macleod, the charity's water safety manager, said: 'Even in hot weather, the seas around our coasts are cold enough year-round to trigger cold water shock, while waves and rip currents can overpower even the most experienced water users.' He added: 'We encourage people to choose a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags, which is the area most closely monitored by the lifeguards.'
