Africa-Press. Moroccan authorities have been working since Saturday to control a fire that broke out in the Afous oasis in Errachidia province, located in the southeast of the country. The fire has caused damage to large areas of palm groves, but no human casualties have been reported.
A local official stated that firefighting teams are still working to contain and extinguish the fire, which ignited on Friday. He added that the extent of the damage has not yet been definitively determined, while field intervention operations continue to prevent the flames from spreading to additional areas within the oasis.
On July 5, Moroccan authorities urged residents living near forests in 12 provinces to exercise caution until July 12, following a high-risk warning issued by the National Agency for Water and Forests regarding the potential for wildfires. The agency indicated that the highest levels of risk, classified as red, include forests in 12 out of 75 provinces in the country, amid climatic conditions that facilitate the spread of fires.
In 2025, wildfires consumed approximately 1,728 hectares (4,270 acres) of forests in Morocco, with seasonal grasses and plants accounting for about 45% of the affected areas.
The warnings coincide with a heatwave announced by the National Meteorological Directorate, as temperatures in some areas are expected to reach 46 degrees Celsius, increasing the risk of wildfires and their expansion.
