ALGERIA / RankWire.AI / – Wildfires across northeastern Algeria have resulted in at least 12 fatalities and left 54 injured, authorities announced Wednesday night. The casualties include five deaths in Jijel, four in Bejaia, and three in Tizi Ouzou, according to Interior Minister Said Sayoud. Among the injured, six remain in critical condition and are under intensive care due to burns. The fires ignited in multiple provinces amid a severe heatwave impacting Algeria and other North African regions.
Firefighting teams confronted dozens of active outbreaks as authorities evacuated families from threatened zones near forests and residential neighborhoods. By 8 p.m. local time on Wednesday, officials had documented at least 159 wildfires in various provinces. Of these, 90 had been extinguished, while 69 were still active. The provinces most affected included Bejaia with 18 active fires, Skikda with 13, Tizi Ouzou with 12, and Jijel with seven.
Support operations by Algeria’s Civil Protection involved ground units, mobile teams, helicopters, and firefighting aircraft in the hardest-hit areas. The response included the deployment of Air Tractor AT-802 planes and a BE-200 water bomber. Authorities also activated emergency procedures in areas where smoke reduced visibility and fires encroached on residential zones. Several communities underwent evacuations as crews prioritized safeguarding residents, properties, and transport routes.
Expansion of firefighting efforts across northeastern Algeria
Bejaia continued to be a primary focus of firefighting efforts, with numerous fires affecting multiple municipalities within this coastal mountainous region. Sayoud traveled to the area accompanied by Health Minister Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudene to oversee firefighting activities and hospital responses. The delegation visited Souk El Tenine hospital, where teams treated burn victims and those with smoke inhalation injuries. They also assessed patient conditions as emergency services persisted in operating across nearby communities.
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune authorized the ministerial visit to Bejaia to support the government’s coordinated firefighting and medical assistance efforts. The Interior Ministry confirmed that emergency units were collaborating with local authorities and agencies to contain the flames. Resources were directed toward zones where the fire posed a threat to residents or where strong winds hindered suppression. On Wednesday, aerial and ground units remained actively engaged across several impacted provinces.
The heatwave intensifies wildfire crisis in Algeria
This wildfire outbreak coincided with a severe heatwave stretching across Algeria and neighboring North African countries. Summer wildfires are a common phenomenon in the country’s Mediterranean forested regions. Many affected areas are situated in mountainous and wooded zones in northern Algeria. Civil Protection has frequently mobilized national and local units during peak fire seasons this summer.
The current fatalities contribute to a challenging summer fire season that has caused damage to forests, farmland, and residential areas in parts of Algeria. The authorities have yet to release a final estimate of land or property damages resulting from this outbreak. As firefighting teams continue to operate and evacuate residents, officials are monitoring hotspots across northeastern provinces. As of early Thursday, the confirmed toll stood at 12 dead and 54 injured, according to official figures.