ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Zawita forest in Duhok province caught fire on Thursday, burning many pine trees, including some estimated to be 150 years old.
“The reason behind the fire remains unclear,” Shivan Ismail, director of Duhok Forest Police, told Rudaw, adding that the fire initially started small, but strong winds caused it to spread rapidly.
Despite extensive efforts by firefighting teams from across the province, the fire has yet to be brought under control, Ismail noted.
More than 150 dunams of forest were destroyed in a recent fire in the Zawita area. The Zawita pine forest, often referred to as the lungs of Duhok due to its role in providing clean air, is made up of 90 percent pine trees, which remain green throughout all four seasons.
Fires are a perennial concern in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
Earlier this week, wildfires sweeping through Sulaimani province scorched hundreds of dunams of land, destroyed centuries-old trees, and caused widespread environmental damage, as officials and residents warn that limited resources and difficult terrain are hampering firefighting efforts.
