A major fire was still out of control, Saturday for the second consecutive day, in a carpet factory in Nabatieh in southern Lebanon, the National News Agency reported.

The fire broke out late Friday afternoon in the Kabalan carpet factory, located in Zefta, in the Nabatieh region. Despite the efforts of firefighters, the fire had still not been brought under control early Saturday afternoon, and the building containing the premises is now threatening to collapse.

According to the NNA, the army evacuated the perimeter, while the flames approached the warehouses belonging to the factory and containing large quantities of flammable materials used in the carpet-making process. 

Military helicopters responded to fight the fire, while army and Civil Defense firefighters — both Lebanese and Palestinian from the camps in the Saida and Sour areas — were also on the ground, but were having difficulty getting water, in part because of power supply issues at water pumping facilities. A unit from the Spanish contingent of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) also took part in the efforts throughout the night from Friday to Saturday.

The causes of the fire are still unclear. There are no reports of casualties to date, but the material losses are already estimated at several million dollars, and the decommissioning of this factory deprives about 200 families of employment, again according to the NNA.

Nabatieh Gov. Hassan Fakih said in a statement, “What happened is a disaster and a tragedy. The capabilities of the municipalities are limited in these circumstances, and the fire is huge. These municipalities do not have the crews and equipment for such a fire." He thanked the firefighting teams, the army, and UNIFIL for their efforts adding, "We hope that the fire will be brought under control."

The Environment Ministry warned on Friday of an increased risk of fires in Lebanon, especially over the weekend. The fire index maps published by the laboratory of the University of Balamand indicate “a severe risk of fire outbreaks that are difficult to control and a high possibility of their sudden and rapid expansion.”

Many parts of Lebanon are prone to forest fires, due to high temperatures and dryness in the summer. In previous years, fires have ravaged villages and ecosystems in their path. On Thursday, a fire burned green spaces in a plantation area belonging to the Ministry of Agriculture in the region of Abdé, Akkar, in northern Lebanon. Civil Defense teams have moved in to put out the fire, but they are suffering from a chronic lack of equipment as the country struggles with an economic collapse.