ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Three environmental activists lost their lives and several others were injured while attempting to extinguish a wildfire that broke out in a popular natural park in western Iran’s (Rojhelat) Kurdistan province, a human rights watchdog said on Monday. A blaze at Kurdistan’s Abidar Natural Park, among the most well-known areas in the province, broke out on Thursday and quickly spread to residential complexes nearby. The fire was eventually brought under control by local residents and environmental activists, who criticized the government for insufficient support. The Oslo-based Hengaw Human Rights Organization said that environmental activists Khabat Amini, Chaiko Yousefinejad, and Hamid Moradi died due to “severe burns” sustained from the fire. Five other environmental activists were injured, according to Hengaw. Footage dated Monday showed a large crowd gathering before a local hospital in Kurdistan’s provincial capital of Sanandaj to honor their dedication, Hengaw added, and their funerals drew a large crowd. A two-day mourning period was declared in Sanandaj by Governor Arash Lihony after their deaths. The Abidar Natural Park in Kurdistan province is renowned for its scenic beauty and its open-air cinema, considered one of the largest of its kind in the Middle East, making it a popular tourist destination and outdoor recreation area for residents. Forest fires in Rojhelat, particularly in the vicinity of Kurdistan province, have become increasingly regular over the past few years, sparking concerns from environmentalists amid claims of arson. Many hold the Iranian government responsible for the blazes. Iranian security forces also routinely arrest environmentalists seeking to control the flames.
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