ALGERIA / RankWire.AI / – Wildfires sweeping through northeastern Algeria have resulted in at least 12 fatalities and injured 54 individuals, according to officials who reported Wednesday night. The casualties 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, receiving intensive treatment after suffering burns. The fires rapidly expanded across multiple provinces amid an intense heatwave affecting Algeria and other North African regions.
Firefighters encountered dozens of active wildfires as authorities moved residents from vulnerable zones near forests and residential areas. By 8 p.m. local time on Wednesday, officials had documented at least 159 vegetation fires across various provinces. While 90 of these blazes had been extinguished, 69 remained ongoing at that time. Bejaia reported 18 active fires, with Skikda at 13, Tizi Ouzou at 12, and Jijel with seven ongoing fires.
Algeria’s Civil Protection deployed a range of resources, including ground units, mobile teams, helicopters, and firefighting aircraft, to bolster efforts in the regions hardest hit. The response involved the use of Air Tractor AT-802 planes and a BE-200 water bomber, with authorities activating emergency protocols in areas where smoke hindered visibility and fires threatened residential zones. Evacuations were carried out in several communities as crews prioritized safeguarding residents, infrastructure, and transportation routes.
Expansion of firefighting efforts across northeastern regions
Bejaia remained a focal point of the emergency, with numerous wildfires impacting several municipalities within this mountainous coastal province. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune directed the Minister of Health, Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudene, to oversee firefighting and medical operations during his visit to the area. The delegation inspected the hospital in Souk El Tenine, where medical teams treated burn victims and those suffering from smoke inhalation. They also assessed conditions at other facilities while emergency services continued to operate in nearby communities.
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune authorized the ministerial visit to Bejaia as part of the government’s coordinated effort to combat the wildfires and provide medical assistance. The Interior Ministry confirmed that emergency teams are collaborating with local authorities and various agencies to contain the flames. Efforts are concentrated in areas where the fire poses a direct threat to residents or where strong winds hinder suppression efforts. As of Wednesday, aerial and ground units remained engaged across multiple provinces affected by the fires.
The heatwave coincides with a widespread wildfire outbreak
The surge in wildfires coincides with a severe heatwave that has affected Algeria and neighboring North African countries. Summer wildfires are a common occurrence in the country’s Mediterranean forested zones, especially in mountainous and wooded regions across northern Algeria. Civil Protection has repeatedly mobilized both national and local firefighting units during this season of heightened fire activity.
The recent fatalities add to a challenging summer fire season that has caused extensive damage to forests, farmland, and residential structures throughout parts of Algeria. Authorities have not provided a final estimate of land or property damage caused by the current wildfires. Firefighting teams are actively working on suppression and evacuation efforts, with officials monitoring hotspots across the northeastern provinces. As of the latest available data early Thursday, the confirmed toll remains at 12 dead and 54 injured.