Wildfires kill 12 people in Algeria amid severe heatwave
Wildfires sweeping several Algerian provinces have killed 12 people as a severe heatwave grips the country. Dozens have suffered burns and families have been evacuated from threatened areas.
Algeria's Interior Minister Said Sayoud announced late on Wednesday that 12 people had died in wildfires that swept through several provinces of the country, as North Africa endures a severe heatwave.
According to the minister, the highest toll was recorded in Jijel province, where five people died, followed by four deaths in Bejaia province and three in Tizi Ouzou.
Officials visit affected region
Sayoud, together with Health Minister Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudene, travelled to Bejaia province to review firefighting efforts and check on the condition of those injured, according to the official APS news agency. The minister said 54 people had suffered burn injuries, six of whom are in critical condition and currently receiving intensive care.
Algeria's civil protection services recorded 154 wildfires across the country on Wednesday alone. Bejaia province accounted for 36 of these fires, 18 of which have since been brought under control.
Families evacuated
As flames approached populated areas in several provinces, including Bejaia and Jijel, numerous families were evacuated. Images published by regional outlet Jijel News showed residents taking shelter inside a post office amid thick smoke.
Algeria has been battling wildfires throughout the summer, with at least six people reported killed in various provinces last month. Northern Algeria is hit by forest fires every summer, a recurring disaster made worse by drought and climate change. In recent years, dozens of people have died in such fires, which have also destroyed thousands of hectares of forest and farmland along with numerous homes.
