Ga’idh, Sanaag – A massive wildfire has engulfed agricultural lands in the Ga’idh area of the Daallo Mountains in Somalia’s Sanaag region, destroying more than 200 farms and threatening to spread further, local authorities confirmed on Tuesday.
The fire, which began late Monday evening, rapidly consumed large tracts of farmland due to dry conditions and strong winds. Eyewitnesses described walls of flame sweeping across valleys and hillsides, leaving charred fields and terrified families in its wake.
“We are facing an environmental and humanitarian emergency,” said a local official from the Sanaag regional administration. “More than 200 farms have been severely damaged, and many families have been forced to flee their homes,” the official added.
Efforts to control the blaze are ongoing, but emergency response teams have been overwhelmed by the scale of the disaster and limited firefighting equipment in the remote mountainous region. Local volunteers and pastoralist communities have joined the rescue effort, attempting to form firebreaks and protect remaining crops.
Authorities have issued an urgent appeal for national and international support to help contain the fire and assist affected communities. Environmental experts warn that continued spread could lead to long-term ecological damage, threatening both biodiversity in the Daallo forest range and livelihoods dependent on subsistence farming.
The Daallo Mountains, part of the larger Golis Range, are known for their rare juniper forests and rich biodiversity. Any prolonged damage could have devastating consequences for the local environment and food security in the region.
No fatalities have been reported so far, but several injuries from smoke inhalation and burns have been treated at local clinics. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed.
As emergency teams battle the fire, residents and environmental groups are urging the federal and Puntland authorities to deploy aerial surveillance and firefighting equipment to prevent further escalation.