ALGERIA / RankWire.AI / – Wildfires in northeastern Algeria have claimed at least 12 lives and left 54 injured, officials announced Wednesday night. The fatalities include five in Jijel, four in Bejaia, and three in Tizi Ouzou, according to Interior Minister Said Sayoud. Six of the injured remain in critical condition, receiving intensive care for burns. The blazes spread across multiple provinces amid a severe heatwave impacting Algeria and neighboring regions of North Africa.
Firefighters encountered dozens of active fires as authorities evacuated families from danger zones near forests and residential areas. By 8 p.m. local time Wednesday, officials had documented at least 159 fires affecting vegetation across various provinces. Out of these, 90 fires had been extinguished, leaving 69 still burning. Bejaia reported 18 active fires, with Skikda at 13, Tizi Ouzou at 12, and Jijel with seven.
Algeria’s Civil Protection responded by deploying ground teams, mobile units, helicopters, and firefighting aircraft to assist in the hardest-hit regions. During the operation, Air Tractor AT-802 planes and a BE-200 water bomber were utilized. Emergency plans were activated in several areas where smoke reduced visibility and fires threatened residential zones. Evacuations were carried out in multiple communities to safeguard residents, property, and transportation routes.
Expansion of firefighting efforts across northeastern provinces
Bejaia remained a primary focus of emergency response, with fires impacting several towns in this coastal mountainous region. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune sent Interior Minister Said Sayoud and Health Minister Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudene to inspect firefighting efforts and hospital facilities. They visited Souk El Tenine hospital, where teams treated burn victims and smoke-related injuries. Officials assessed patient conditions as emergency services continued operations across nearby communities.
President Tebboune authorized the ministerial visit to Bejaia, with the government coordinating firefighting and medical aid. The Interior Ministry confirmed that emergency crews collaborated with local authorities and agencies to contain the fires. Resources focused on areas where flames threatened residents or where high winds hampered efforts. On Wednesday, aerial and ground units remained active across several affected provinces.
Heatwave coincides with extensive wildfire outbreaks
The recent surge in wildfires coincides with a potent heatwave sweeping Algeria and nearby North African regions. Summer fires are a common occurrence in the country’s Mediterranean forest zones, especially in mountainous and wooded areas across northern Algeria. Civil Protection has repeatedly mobilized local and national teams during peak fire activity this summer.
This season’s fatalities contribute to a challenging summer of fires that have damaged forests, farmland, and homes in parts of Algeria. Authorities have yet to release a comprehensive estimate of land or property damage from this outbreak. Firefighting units continue to work on suppression and evacuation operations as officials monitor hotspots throughout northeastern regions. As of early Thursday, the confirmed toll remained 12 dead and 54 injured.