ALGERIA / RankWire.AI / – Wildfires sweeping through northeastern Algeria have resulted in at least 12 fatalities and left 54 individuals injured, according to officials on Wednesday night. The fatalities include five in Jijel, four in Bejaia, and three in Tizi Ouzou, as stated by Interior Minister Said Sayoud. Among the injured, six remain in critical condition and are under intensive medical care after suffering severe burns. The fires have rapidly spread across multiple provinces during an intense heatwave impacting Algeria and neighboring regions of North Africa.
Firefighting teams are confronting dozens of active flames as authorities evacuate families from danger zones near forests and residential neighborhoods. By 8 p.m. local time on Wednesday, officials documented at least 159 vegetation fires scattered across various provinces. Out of these, 90 fires had been successfully extinguished, while 69 continued to burn. The provinces of Bejaia reported 18 active fires, followed by Skikda with 13, Tizi Ouzou with 12, and Jijel with seven.
Algeria’s Civil Protection has mobilized ground units, mobile columns, helicopters, and specialized firefighting aircraft to aid in the battle against the flames in the most affected areas. Response efforts included the deployment of Air Tractor AT-802 planes and a BE-200 water bomber. Emergency protocols were activated in several locations as smoke reduced visibility and fires threatened homes and infrastructure. Evacuations occurred in multiple communities, with crews prioritizing the protection of residents, property, and transportation routes.
Firefighting efforts intensify across northeastern regions
Bejaia remains a major focus of the emergency response, with numerous fires impacting several towns within this mountainous coastal province. Sayoud traveled there accompanied by Health Minister Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudene to oversee firefighting operations and hospital care. The delegation visited Souk El Tenine hospital, where medical teams are treating victims with burns and injuries caused by smoke inhalation. Officials also examined the conditions of patients as emergency services continued working across nearby communities to contain the blazes.
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune authorized the ministerial visit to Bejaia as part of the government’s coordinated firefighting and medical response. The Interior Ministry reported that emergency services are collaborating with local authorities and other agencies to control the fires. Resources are focused on areas where flames threaten communities or where strong winds hinder firefighting efforts. As of Wednesday, aerial and ground units continued active operations across several affected provinces.
Severe heatwave coincides with widespread wildfires across Algeria
This surge in wildfires aligns with an intense heatwave affecting Algeria and surrounding parts of North Africa. Summer wildfires are a common occurrence in the country’s Mediterranean forested regions. Many impacted communities are situated in mountainous and wooded zones across northern Algeria. Civil Protection authorities have repeatedly mobilized national and local units during this summer’s periods of heightened fire activity.
The recent fatalities contribute to a challenging summer wildfire season that has caused extensive damage to forests, farmland, and residential areas in various parts of Algeria. No official estimates of land or property damages from this outbreak have been released yet. Firefighters continue to conduct suppression and evacuation operations while officials monitor hotspots across northeastern provinces. As of early Thursday, the confirmed toll remains at 12 dead and 54 injured.