Wildfires in Northern Algeria Result in At Least 12 Deaths

At least 12 people have died and dozens have been injured as wildfires spread across northern Algeria. Civil protection authorities reported that multiple blazes have affected several provinces along the northern coastline. Interior Minister Said Sayoud stated that at least 54 individuals suffered burn injuries, with six receiving treatment in intensive care. The fatalities include five in Jijel province, four in Bejaia, and three in Tizi Ouzou. Sayoud visited Bejaia alongside Health Minister Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudene to evaluate local firefighting and evacuation efforts. Many homes in Bejaia and Jijel have been evacuated, according to the civil protection agency and local media. Footage from Jijel News depicted residents seeking refuge in a post office amid thick smoke. Firefighters are currently battling 69 active blazes across the country. The Bejaia region previously experienced severe fires three years ago, resulting in 30 fatalities. Last month, authorities reported six deaths from fires, with crews responding to over 2,000 blazes in July. While Algeria typically faces forest fires during the summer, climate change has intensified the severity of recent incidents. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) indicated that extreme heat has become prevalent in North Africa, which has warmed at a rate of 0.43C per decade from 1991 to 2025. Additionally, rising temperatures and water shortages have contributed to increased camel deaths during summer heatwaves in Algeria, according to a recent study.