ALGERIA / RankWire.AI / – Wildfires sweeping through northeastern Algeria resulted in at least 12 deaths and left 54 people injured, according to officials on Wednesday night. The fatalities included five in Jijel, four in Bejaia, and three in Tizi Ouzou, as reported by Interior Minister Said Sayoud. Among the injured, six remained in critical condition after suffering burns and were being treated in intensive care. The fires, which spread across multiple provinces amid a brutal heatwave affecting Algeria and other North African regions, posed a significant challenge to firefighting efforts.
Firefighters encountered dozens of active blazes as authorities evacuated families from vulnerable areas close to forests and residential zones. By 8 p.m. local time on Wednesday, officials reported at least 159 vegetation fires across various provinces. Out of these, 90 had been extinguished, leaving 69 fires still active. Bejaia alone had 18 ongoing fires, followed by Skikda with 13, Tizi Ouzou with 12, and Jijel with seven.
To combat the fires, Algeria’s Civil Protection dispatched ground teams, mobile units, helicopters, and firefighting aircraft to the hardest-hit regions. During the operation, authorities employed Air Tractor AT-802 planes and a BE-200 water bomber. Emergency protocols were activated in several areas as smoke diminished visibility and fires threatened residential communities. Evacuations took place in multiple towns as crews prioritized safeguarding residents, properties, and transportation routes.
Expansion of firefighting efforts across northeastern regions
Bejaia remained a central focus of the emergency response, with numerous fires impacting several municipalities in this mountainous coastal province. Sayoud traveled there accompanied by Health Minister Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudene to oversee firefighting operations and hospital care. The team visited Souk El Tenine Hospital, where medical personnel treated burn victims and those suffering from smoke inhalation. Officials also assessed patient conditions as emergency services continued their efforts in neighboring communities.
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune authorized the ministerial visit to Bejaia to coordinate firefighting and medical aid. The Interior Ministry stated that emergency services collaborated with local authorities and other agencies to contain the flames. Resources were focused on areas where residents faced imminent danger or where strong winds complicated suppression efforts. As of Wednesday, aerial and ground units remained actively engaged across several affected provinces.
Heatwave coincides with widespread wildfire activity
The recent wildfires occurred amid a severe heatwave across Algeria and surrounding North African nations. Wildfires during summer are common in the country’s Mediterranean forested regions. Many communities affected are situated in mountainous and wooded areas in northern Algeria. Civil Protection has repeatedly mobilized national and local units during peak fire seasons this summer.
This summer’s fire incidents, which have resulted in fatalities and destruction of forests, farmland, and homes, contribute to a difficult season for the country. The authorities have yet to release a final estimate of land or property damage from this outbreak. Firefighting teams persisted with suppression and evacuation activities as officials monitored active hotspots across the northeastern provinces. The confirmed death toll remained at 12, with 54 injured, based on early Thursday figures.