Musakhail, Sherani pine forests still on fire
A picture taken on June 18, 2017 shows a forest in flames during a wildfire near the village of Mega Fundeira. Portugal declared three days of national mourning from June 18, 2017 after the most deadly forest fire in its recent history, raging through the centre of the country. The fire, which broke out June 17, 2017 in the Pedrogao Grande district, had killed at least 62 people and injured more than 50, according to the latest official update by Sunday afternoon. PHOTO: AFP
The uncontrolled inferno, which started in the ancient pine and olive forests in Koh-e-Suliman range of Balochistan’s Sherani and Musakhail districts, has been spreading despite all the efforts of the local residents and provincial government to control it.
The fire started 10 days ago in three different places and local tried to bring it under control but all their efforts failed due to lack of resources.
The government didn’t help initially when the fire could have been extinguished through use of helicopters and now it has spread to a vast 30 square kilometer area.
“We are completely helpless, the federal government should do something and send experts as well as machinery for firefighting,” a senior government official told The Express Tribune on phone.
He said that they tried their best but nothing worked due to lack of properly trained staff and equipment.
At least three people were killed when a burning log fell on them in Sherani. They were trying to extinguish the fire. Four people sustained serious burn injuries in the incident.
Local residents claimed that fire erupted in adjacent Mughal Kot Khyber-Pukhtoonkhwa (K-P) on May 9 and local levies and forest guards tried to extinguish it on their own but due to difficult terrain they failed miserably.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 21st, 2022.