Pakistan: Emergency crews responding to forest fire in the Koh-e-Suleman mountain range as of May 24

Event

As of May 24, emergency crews are continuing to work to contain a large forest fire in the Koh-e-Suleman mountain range on the border of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces. The fire was first reported 12 days ago and has spread to over 3,000 hectares (7,413 acres). Authorities have reported that three people have died and four others have been injured after being trapped in the fire. Around 4,000 people have been displaced and are living with families due to the fire. Large areas of pine forest have been destroyed by the fire and a task force has been established to assess damages to properties in the region. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is leading the response to the fire and has been assisted by the military, as well as cross-border support from Iran which has provided additional firefighting aircraft. A lack of available water in the area and inaccessible terrain, combined with hot and windy conditions, are hampering firefighting efforts and further growth of the fire is possible in the coming days.

Business and transport disruptions may persist in the affected area over the coming days. Anticipate the status of nearby roads to change over the coming hours and days. Authorities could close routes within the fire complex and evacuate communities due to fire activity and the needs of response operations. Traffic flows could also be disrupted during re-entry periods after authorities lift evacuation orders. Low visibility from smoke and possible ashfall could contribute to traffic delays and congestion in the region, as well as possibly disrupting operations at nearby airfields.

Advice

Heed all evacuation orders. Seek updated information on road conditions if driving in the affected area; road closures and detours will cause increased congestion and delays. Individuals not under evacuation warnings should consider remaining inside well-ventilated, air-conditioned spaces to reduce exposure to smoke. Charge battery-powered devices in case of prolonged power outages.