In northern Lebanon, numerous fires have broken out, devastating pine forests and threatening several villages. The fires forced some residents to flee their homes, and at least one firefighter was killed while fighting the flames.
Hot weather and strong winds hit the northern province of Akkar, fueling numerous wildfires. On Wednesday, a massive wildfire broke out near the city of Kubayat, the largest Christian settlement in the region.
The footage from the scene shows how the flames spread extremely quickly through the forested mountains, burning the legendary Lebanese pine forests. The flames quickly approached the city as well as other villages in the area.
Firefighters and military personnel were sent to the area to fight the flames. At least one volunteer firefighter has died, the state-run National News Agency reported.
President Michel Aoun instructed the leaders of the army and civil defense to seek help from neighboring Cyprus. In previous years, the island nation has repeatedly sent fire helicopters if Lebanese bushfires got out of control.