Wildfires Rage in Iran Amid Severe Drought

Darwin, 25 November-

Amid a deepening drought caused by the drying of surface water sources and a significant drop in groundwater levels, Iran is battling large wildfires in the northern province of Mazandaran. For more than seven days, flames have been burning through the Hyrcanian Forest and surrounding areas.

The Hyrcanian Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been severely affected. Firefighters and local residents told AFP on Sunday that they have managed to bring about 80 percent of the blaze under control after a week of continuous effort. Fire authorities said the wildfire was not caused naturally but originated from human activity.

Stretching along the Iranian coast of the Caspian Sea and into the adjacent mountainous regions, the Hyrcanian Forest is considered one of the oldest and most biodiverse forests in the world. According to UNESCO, the forest is between 25 and 50 million years old. It is home to rare species such as the Asiatic cheetah and the Persian leopard, along with numerous other mammals, birds, and plant species—some of which are found nowhere else on Earth.

So far, the wildfire has not spread into populated areas, and no casualties have been reported. The Mazandaran provincial government said the full extent of the damage cannot be assessed until the fire is completely extinguished.

Satellite imagery from NASA indicates that approximately 1,500 acres of the Hyrcanian Forest have already burned.

Meanwhile, Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported that another wildfire broke out on Sunday in forests near the southwestern city of Jolfa.

These fires come at a time when Iran is suffering one of its worst droughts in decades. Villages, towns, and even the capital, Tehran, are struggling with severe water shortages. In Tehran, water is being distributed on a rationed basis. Government officials say Iran has not experienced such prolonged and widespread drought in the past 60 years.

Source: AFP