During the period from May 1 to August 7, 2012, nearly 124 fires ravaged 327 hectares of forest and woodland in Tunisia, Director General of Forest Protection, coming under the Tunisian Ministry of Agriculture Slaheddine Touati told the press Tuesday.

"We are currently fighting fires in the Kef region which seem more manageable than those previously occurring in the region of Jendouba" (two parts of northwestern Tunisia), he said.

Although the means of intervention are modest, he added, "We were able to control almost all fires that broke out these days. If we cannot prevent fires, we can always limit the damage".

In comparison with the number recorded between May 1 and July 7, 2012, the same period of 2011 recorded only 60 fires that had destroyed an area of 537 hectares.