RABAT, Anadolu

Moroccan authorities continued on Saturday their efforts to bring under control a fire that broke out on Friday in oases in the Errachidia province (southeast), amid rising temperatures in several areas.

A local official told Anadolu, preferring not to reveal his identity as he is not authorized to speak to the media, that firefighting teams are continuing their efforts to extinguish the fire that broke out in the "Afous" oases in the Errachidia province.

The official explained that the fire caused no human casualties, but it destroyed a large area of palm trees, with the extent of the damage not immediately determined.

On July 5 of this month, Moroccan authorities called on residents of areas adjacent to forests in 12 provinces to exercise caution until the 12th of the same month, amid warnings of fire outbreaks.

The National Agency for Water and Forests said in a statement that the maximum danger level, classified in red, covers forests in 12 out of 75 provinces in the country.

Morocco relies on an early warning system to assess forest fire risks, managed by the National Agency for Water and Forests, and issued periodically based on climatic conditions and the state of vegetation cover.

The red level indicates a maximum risk of fires, while the orange level indicates a high risk, requiring enhanced precautionary measures and avoidance of activities that may cause fires.

During 2025, fires destroyed approximately 1,728 hectares of forests in the kingdom, with secondary grasses and seasonal plants accounting for about 45% of the total affected areas.

The forest fire warnings coincide with an alert bulletin issued by the General Directorate of Meteorology regarding a heat wave during which temperatures are expected to reach 46 degrees Celsius in some areas of the country.