At least 15 people died and 26 were injured by the fires in northern Algeria early Monday morning (July 24, 2023), the interior ministry said.
In a statement, the ministry reported that 97 fires were registered in 16 municipalities, but the fiercest fires took place in Bugía, Al-Buira and Jijel and claimed 15 lives.
At least 1,500 people have been evacuated from those areas by the blazes fanned by high winds, the same source said. Algeria is experiencing a heat wave with temperatures reaching 48°C on Monday.
About 7,500 agents and 350 trucks were at the scene, supported by essential air equipment that enabled most of the fires to be brought under control, the statement said.
But “fire fighting continues in six wilayas.” [provincias]: Bumerdes, Al-Buira, Tizi Uzu, Bugía, Jijel and Skikda (…)”, specified the ministry. According to the statement, twelve fire-fighting aircraft are still in use in these six provinces.
The Interior Ministry asked citizens to “avoid the areas affected by the fires and to use the released numbers for any complaints”.
Northern and eastern Algeria often suffer from major fires in summer, a phenomenon that is getting worse every year due to climate change, bringing with it droughts and heat waves.
ct (afp, ntv)