A devastating series of seasonal wildfires, intensified by an extreme regional heatwave, has claimed the lives of at least 12 individuals and left 54 others injured across northeastern Algeria, according to government updates.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Minister of Interior Said Sayoud revealed that the fatalities occurred across three specific northeastern provinces. He noted that five deaths were recorded in the prefecture of Jijel, four in Bejaia, and three in Tizi Ouzou, reports Al Jazeera.
The minister provided these details during a visit to a hospital located in the Bejaia city of Souk El Thenine, where he assessed the medical care being provided to those suffering from smoke inhalation and severe burns.
According to official Algeria Press Service, Sayoud reported 54 burn cases at the hospital, including six individuals who currently remain in critical condition.
Emergency efforts remain intense. On Wednesday, the country’s Civil Protection forces registered 154 separate fire outbreaks nationwide. This tally included 36 fires in Bejaia province alone, where responders successfully brought 18 under control.
Sayoud confirmed that firefighting teams have successfully contained the blazes in the provinces of Skikda, El Tarf, Bouira, Tizi Ouzou, and Tebessa. However, active operations continue in other regions, with 18 active hotspots remaining in Bejaia and blazes burning across 12 municipalities within Jijel province.
The catastrophic fires coincide with a massive heatwave currently engulfing both Algeria and neighbouring Tunisia. The fast-spreading blazes have forced dozens of families to evacuate from the worst-affected areas. Footage broadcast by regional news website Jijel News showed residents seeking safety inside a post office surrounded by dense smoke.
Algeria frequently experiences deadly seasonal wildfires during its peak summer period, with at least six people losing their lives to similar blazes last month alone. In recent years, severe heatwaves and strong winds have heightened fire risks along Algeria’s forested Mediterranean coast—disasters that are increasingly worsened by prolonged drought and climate change.
