Wildfires in Algeria’s north claim at least 12 dead, dozens wounded. A chain of blazes has scorched through multiple provinces, tearing through forests and farmland, while the country endures a severe heatwave.
Interior Minister Said Sayoud confirmed at least 54 burn victims, six of whom are in intensive care, following the blaze in Jijel, Bejaia and Tizi Ouzou. The minister travelled to Bejaia alongside Health Minister Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudene to assess firefighting and evacuation efforts.
Evacuations were ordered in Bejaia and Jijel, with residents taking refuge in local post offices as thick smoke clouds loomed. The civil protection agency reported 69 active blazes across the country that evening.
Historically, the same region endured a devastating fire in 2019 that killed 30 people. In July, authorities battled over 2,000 blazes nationwide, with at least six deaths recorded last month.
Climate change has amplified the intensity of Algeria’s wildfires, as the World Meteorological Organization notes that extreme heat has become common in North Africa. Rising temperatures coupled with water shortages have also led to increased camel mortality during heatwaves.
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