Rabat (AFP) - Moroccan firefighting services made progress Sunday in containing forest fires that have been ravaging forest areas in five northern provinces since Wednesday, local authorities told AFP.

In the province of Larache, "70 percent" of a large fire that destroyed about 5,300 hectares has been brought under control, while elements are working to extinguish five smaller fires, according to local sources.

A total of 1,331 families distributed in 20 roundabouts (villages) were evacuated and about 170 houses were destroyed in this area, in which one person was killed.

In the neighboring region of Wazzan, rescue teams are on their way to surround an active fire that has destroyed 400 hectares of pine and fruit trees.

Firefighters and soldiers succeeded in controlling fires in areas that are usually difficult to reach in Chefchaouen, Tetouan and Taza.

The fire was fueled by very high temperatures, approaching 40 degrees, and by violent winds.

According to the authorities, the causes of these fires are still unknown, but the human factor is not excluded.

And Al-Akhbar newspaper wrote in its Sunday issue that the forest fires in Larache proved once again that there is a major failure in terms of implementing the integrated disaster risk management program and the ability to confront it.

In an attempt to stop the spread of the fires, four Air Force Canadir aircraft and four other "Turbo Thrash" aircraft are carrying out sorties, in parallel with the deployment of hundreds of water, forest and civil protection personnel, auxiliary forces, the Royal Armed Forces, national recovery agents and volunteers. .

Morocco has been exposed to a heat wave for several days, with the temperature approaching 45 degrees Celsius, at a time when the country is suffering from exceptional drought and water stress.

On the other side of the Strait of Gibraltar, fires are burning in southern Europe, from Portugal to Greece, through Spain and France.