On Monday, clouds of smoke enveloped the sky in Lebanon as wildfires spread through parts of the city of Sidon. A heatwave coupled with strong winds exacerbated the fires that originated from pine forests across the country and three provinces in neighboring Syria.

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The fires started out in Lebanon’s western mountains, and continued to spread, reportedly resulting in the death of at least one person. Olive tree plantations, cars and houses have been burnt down and the evacuation process is currently underway. According to the Red Cross Lebanon, 50 civilians experienced suffocation, but have been rescued.

استمرار عمليات الاطفاء لإخماد الحريق الذي شب في كفرمتى-المشرف-بعورته-دقون وسط ظروف مناخية قاهرة. pic.twitter.com/Woia9AkcPD

— الدفاع المدني اللبناني (@CivilDefenseLB) October 14, 2019

Lebanese authorities are calling upon the international community to help contain the fires, and we must do our bit to help the country battle what are deemed to be the worst blazes in decades. Continue to #SparkAwareness.

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Cover image: @mylebanon__