Red flames, burning trees, houses on fire. Several mountainous areas across Lebanon were burning for over 36 hours in what has been described as the worst wildfire to hit Lebanon in decades.
The massive forest fire, which broke out early Monday morning in the Chouf village of Mechref, left the country's lush mountains in flames. Firefighters battled to put out the fire since then but moderate rains in the evening brought them under control in most affected areas, media reports have said.
However, new fires broke out in other areas including Ghazir, Keserwan, and Beino, according to The Daily Star.
The Monday fires prompted Lebanese authorities to call for Cypriot help to extinguish the flames after they had reached a nearby university and an elementary school. The latter responded to the call on Monday afternoon. Still, with aerial assistance, the wildfire was not put to rest. Overnight winds caused the flames to break out again and spread like wildfire, literally.
On Tuesday, Raymond Khattar, director-general of Civil Defense, announced there had been 104 fires on Lebanese territory in just 24 hours.
There was at least one casualty as a result of the wildfires, according to The Daily Star. Salim Abou Moujahed, who was helping to put out the fire, died after reportedly suffocating. Five Civil Defense firefighters were also injured in the line of duty; they are currently in stable condition.
The Lebanese Red Cross said they had "treated more than 70 people at a field hospital in Damour, mostly for smoke inhalation, minor burns and other light injuries," according to Al Jazeera.
In light of the horrific situation, people have criticized the government for not being well-equipped to handle such disasters. The backlash intensified after it was revealed that three Sikorsky helicopters - which are specialized for such scenarios - were out of service at the time of the fires after the government's failure to secure funds for maintenance and spare parts, according to The Daily Star.
People have been sharing devastating footage online under the English and Arabic hashtag #LebanonIsBurning. Photos are also being shared under the Arabic hashtag #LebanonFires and the visuals are beyond heartbreaking.