Rain Finally Arrives, Dousing Dozens of Forest Fires

Lebanon on Monday finally received the much-awaited rain that helped douse dozens of forest fires, including a 7-day blaze on the outskirts of the Jbeil town of Fatri.

"The sky saved the earth," said the Voice of Lebanon radio station.

"Heavenly rains did what mankind failed to do," it added.

Interior Minister Ziad Baroud on Sunday announced that around 120 forest fires were raging across the country, including four major blazes.

Well into the night Sunday, firefighters, backed by Lebanese army helicopters, battled to contain a seven-day blaze on the outskirts of the Jbeil town of Fatri. But they failed.

Thanks to heavy rains which started pouring on Lebanon in the early morning hours, helping put out the fires.

Civil Defense chief Darwish Hobeika said 75 percent of the fires were "deliberate."

Prime Minister Saad Hariri called from Oman for a Cabinet meeting to be held on Monday to discuss the fires.