The Balochistan government on Sunday said that the dry drought spell and the high wind velocity caused the forest fires, which were burning for the last 12 days, in the province, as relief measures continue to extinguish the fire.

“We would like to thank the army, civil and forest administration for the relief work. We also want to thank the Islamic Republic of Iran for sending firefighting aircraft to extinguish the fire,” Balochistan government spokesperson Farah Azeem Shah said while addressing a press conference in Quetta. She was accompanied by other two government officials.

Farah said that so far three people died and four got injured because of the forest fire, adding that the 15 missing people have been recovered.

Balochistan forest fire update

• Field staff members are on site
• Zhob commissioner declared an emergency on May 19
• Two army helicopters from NDMA reached
• Control room established in wildlife
• Forest camp office at Surluki district, Sherani
• Teams comprising more than 300 members working to extinguish fire
• FC team deployed for rescue teams
• Iran sends firefighting aircraft
• Task force for a rescue operation in the Sherani district formed
• PM gives instructions to provinces for necessary measures
• Limited resources led to increase in forest fire burn
• Fire was reported in Torgar on May 12
• Fire outbreak was again reported on May 20 in Torgar after controlling it
• Fire outbreak reported in Zimri due lightning
• Fire outbreak reported in Khajuri due to local people

“Efforts are under way to put out the fire in Sherani forests. PDMA and NDMA are engaged in fire control,” read the Inter-Services Public Relations statement.

It read that the Quetta corps headquarters was in touch with the PDMA and the army and Balochistan FC were providing all possible assistance.

“Ten families have been evacuated from affected areas. A medical relief camp has been set up in Mani Khawa,” it read.