Wildfires Ravage Algeria During Intense Heatwave, Killing at Least 25 and Forcing Mass Evacuations

Algeria is battling deadly wildfires fueled by a severe heatwave that has claimed the lives of at least 25 people and forced widespread evacuations. The fires, which erupted on Monday, July 24, have also left more than 20 people injured, as flames engulfed residential areas, according to the interior ministry.

In the Bouira province, residents described how quickly the fires spread. Boualam Ferhat, a resident of Zbarbar, recalled that the fire started around 2 p.m. near a military school. “I called the fire brigade, and they arrived half an hour later, but by that time, the fire had already spread rapidly,” he said.

Ali Saibi, another resident, spoke of the damage to his home. “My air conditioner, windows, and many other things were destroyed. The fire began at Grouma on the Tablat-side, swept through Beni Malah, and eventually reached Bourebach, burning everything in its path. Some people lost everything,” he said.

The fires have been widespread, with the government reporting 97 separate blazes across 16 provinces. Strong winds have worsened the situation, and temperatures have soared to 48 degrees Celsius (118 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas. The largest and most destructive fires have hit the provinces of Bejaia, Jijel, and Bouira, particularly in the Kabyle region, east of the capital Algiers.

On Monday, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune expressed his condolences to the families of both civilian and military victims affected by the fires.

7,500 Firefighters Deployed

The interior ministry announced that 7,500 firefighters and 350 firetrucks had been deployed to combat the blazes, with support from aerial firefighting units. Firefighting operations were still underway in six provinces, and authorities urged citizens to avoid fire-affected areas and report new fires through a toll-free hotline.

Wildfires are common during Algeria’s hot summers, but this year, the situation has been worsened by an intense heatwave that has broken temperature records across the Mediterranean region. Just last year, in August 2022, massive wildfires in Algeria’s northeastern El Tarf province claimed 37 lives. The country also endured its deadliest summer in 2021, when 90 people died in fires, particularly in the Kabylie region.

Wildfires Spread Across the Border into Tunisia

Algeria’s neighbor, Tunisia, is also experiencing record-breaking heat, with temperatures approaching 50 degrees Celsius on Monday. Fires have reignited in the pine forests of Tabarka, near the border with Algeria, after another blaze in the area the previous week. Winds and extreme heat have fanned the flames, leading to the evacuation of at least 300 people by sea and land from the nearby village of Melloula, according to Tunisia’s national guard.

As the Mediterranean region continues to suffer from extreme heat, the risk of wildfires remains high, posing a serious threat to lives and property in the affected areas.