Algeria Wildfire Crisis
Deadly Wildfires Across Algeria Kill Twelve People Amid Severe Summer Heatwave
Anonymous
Key Points
1
131 vegetation fires by 5 p.m. nationwide, with Béjaïa at 20, Tizi Ouzou at 13, Skikda at 10 and Jijel at 6; the nationwide total later rose to 154.
2
Bejaïa province logged the most fires, with 36 reported and 18 brought under control by evening.
3
Three major national highways in the east were closed due to forest fires near Bejaïa, Jijel and Setif.
4
Among Bejaïa casualties were an eight-year-old boy and a 22-year-old woman.
5
Images broadcast by Jijel News showed panicked residents taking refuge in a post office as thick smoke filled the area.
Wildfires across northeastern Algeria killed 12 people and injured 54 others on Tuesday amid a severe heatwave, according to Interior Minister. Five deaths occurred in Jijel province, four in Béjaïa, and three in Tizi Ouzou. Civil Protection reported 154 fires nationwide, with 69 still burning by evening as strong winds fueled the blazes.
Béjaïa province was hit hardest with 36 fires reported and 18 brought under control by nightfall, Al Jazeera reported. Dozens of families evacuated from affected areas as three major highways in the east closed due to the fires. Six of the injured are in critical condition as firefighting efforts continue.
Deadliest Provinces Struggle With Rapid Fire Spread
Béjaïa, Jijel, and Tizi Ouzou bore the brunt of Tuesday's disaster. Interior Minister Said Sayoud confirmed the death toll included an eight-year-old boy and a 22-year-old woman among the victims in Béjaïa. Residents in Jijel fled to a post office for shelter as thick smoke engulfed the area, according to local media footage.
Nationwide Fire Count Reaches 154 as Wind Intensifies Blazes
Civil Protection counted 131 vegetation fires by 5 p.m., climbing to 154 by evening. Béjaïa logged the most with 20 initial reports rising to 36 by day's end. Tizi Ouzou recorded 13 fires, Skikda 10, and Jijel 6 in early counts, Al Jazeera noted. Strong winds are accelerating fire spread across the drought-stricken region.
Major Highways Shut Down as Infrastructure Threatened
Three major national highways in eastern Algeria closed due to the fires near Béjaïa, Jijel, and Setif. The closures disrupted transportation and isolated some communities from emergency services. Government ministers visited Béjaïa to assess firefighting progress and care for the injured as authorities battled the ongoing emergency.
Climate Change Driving More Extreme Summer Wildfires
Algeria faces recurring deadly wildfires during hot, dry summers as climate change intensifies extreme weather conditions. Al Jazeera reported that this disaster echoes past years of devastating fires in the country. Officials attribute the fires to both prolonged drought and climate-driven heat waves that are becoming more frequent and severe.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativeNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
10
Articles
41
Reach
51
A
AnonymousAuthor
