SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: A massive forest fire has erupted in the mountainous area of Ghorlama, located in the Sarvekai tehsil of Upper South Waziristan.

According to initial reports, the fire broke out on Sunday morning and rapidly spread across a wide area, fuelled by strong winds and dry vegetation.

Rescue 1122 spokesperson Shah Nawaz Wazir said the blaze caused significant damage to olive trees and other rare and valuable species of wild flora. “The fire has so far spread over a one kilometre stretch,” he confirmed.

The rescue spokesperson added that the dry grass and thick shrubs in the hilly terrain contributed to the fast spread of the fire, making containment efforts more difficult.

In response to the growing emergency, rescue authorities promptly formed a special response team, which has already arrived from Wana and begun efforts to control the blaze. However, the mountainous terrain has posed serious challenges to accessibility, he said.

“All available resources are being deployed to bring the situation under control,” the rescue spokesperson added.

The official said that the exact cause of the fire was yet to be determined.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2025