A series of mysterious fires erupted in Al-Asabia city with no tangible causes, sparking a wave of speculation ranging from supernatural explanations involving sorcery or curses to rational analyses seeking technical or environmental reasons. Meanwhile, local authorities emphasize their urgent handling of the crisis.
Impact of the Disaster
The Chief of Al-Asabia Municipality, Imad Al-Maqtoof, revealed that the number of fires has surged to over 15 homes within 72 hours, noting that some ignited simultaneously in distant areas. He announced an emergency meeting with relevant parties, including the government in Tripoli and security agencies, to intensify investigations and identify root causes.
Al-Maqtoof highlighted the severe equipment shortages faced by fire fighting teams, as the city relies on a single fire truck, incapable of tackling multiple blazes at once. He also recalled the suffering of victims from the 2023 floods who never received compensation, demanding urgent action to compensate new victims.
The Supernatural Angle
Al-Maqtoof dismissed direct links between the incidents and sorcery, arguing that sorcery—if real—would target specific individuals, not an entire city. However, the absence of clear scientific explanations led some to embrace supernatural hypotheses.
In this context, the Committee to Combat Sorcery and Witchcraft (Hassein) suggested the possibility of “angry energy” behind the disasters, citing accounts of treasure hunters digging in certain sites, which allegedly disturbed “ancient inhabitants” of the area. Residents were advised to recite the Quran and strengthen their spiritual protections.
A Rational Perspective
Engineering experts proposed material explanations. Engineer Abdullah Mamash listed technical hypotheses, such as:
– Electrical grid failures (power surges, damaged cables, transformer malfunctions).
– Gas leaks or reactions of flammable materials.
– Environmental factors (humidity, groundwater).
– Human errors (faulty devices, improper storage).
He called for a detailed analysis of each fire, focusing on similarities between affected homes (power sources, usage habits, gas suppliers).
Chemical engineer Fares Ramadan linked the fires to methane gas released from the soil, exacerbated by sewage systems and groundwater, increasing ignition risks from the smallest spark—especially in poorly ventilated, sealed homes.
Official Measures to Contain the Crisis
The government issued urgent directives to relevant bodies to enhance safety protocols. while Al-Asabia Municipality did the following:
– Requested additional fire trucks from neighbouring municipalities.
– Reviewed fire fighting needs (equipment, expanding geographic coverage).
– Intensified awareness campaigns with religious authorities and scholars.
– Opened compensation files for victims in coordination with national agencies.
Despite diverse theories (supernatural, technical, environmental), practical solutions remain critical to end speculation. Scientific investigations are imperative to establish certainty and shield the city from future disasters.