Deadly Wildfires Ravage Northeastern Algeria Amid Heatwave

At least 12 people have died and 54 others have been injured in wildfires across northeastern Algeria, according to Interior Minister Said Sayoud. The deaths occurred in the provinces of Jijel, Bejaia and Tizi Ouzou, with five fatalities reported in Jijel, four in Bejaia and three in Tizi Ouzou. Sayoud provided the figures during a visit to a hospital in Souk El Thenine, Bejaia, where victims were being treated for burns and smoke inhalation. Six of the 54 injured people were in critical condition. Algeria’s Civil Protection teams recorded 154 fires across the country on Wednesday, including 36 in Bejaia province. Eighteen fires in Bejaia had been brought under control, but 18 hotspots remained active there. Fires were also still burning in 12 municipalities in Jijel. Authorities said dozens of families had been evacuated from the worst-affected areas, while images showed residents taking refuge in a post office amid heavy smoke. Firefighters had contained blazes in Skikda, El Tarf, Bouira, Tizi Ouzou and Tebessa. The fires erupted as a severe heatwave affected Algeria and neighboring Tunisia. The country regularly experiences deadly summer wildfires, particularly along its forested Mediterranean coastline. Officials and experts have linked the growing risk to intense heatwaves, strong winds, drought and climate change. At least six people were killed in wildfires in Algeria the previous month, highlighting the continuing danger during the peak summer season.

At least 12 people have died and dozens more have been injured as wildfires spread across several provinces in northern Algeria, particularly along the country’s Mediterranean coastline. Interior Minister Said Sayoud said 54 people had suffered burn injuries, including at least six who were receiving intensive care. Five deaths were reported in Jijel province, four in Bejaia and three in Tizi Ouzou. Sayoud travelled to Bejaia with Health Minister Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudene to assess firefighting operations and evacuation efforts. Authorities and local media said residents had been evacuated from homes in Bejaia and Jijel. Video from local broadcaster Jijel News showed residents sheltering in a post office while dense smoke surrounded the area. The civil protection agency said firefighters were tackling 69 separate fires across Algeria on Wednesday evening. The fires are occurring during a severe heatwave affecting northern Africa, with Algeria and Tunisia among the worst-hit countries. Algeria experiences forest fires regularly during the summer, but recent fires have become more intense and destructive. Bejaia suffered major fires three years ago that killed 30 people, while at least six people died in fires last month. Crews also fought more than 2,000 fires across Algeria during July alone. The article links the growing severity of the fires to climate change. The World Meteorological Organization says North Africa has experienced the fastest warming of Africa’s six subregions, with temperatures rising by 0.43C per decade between 1991 and 2025. Increasing heat and water shortages have also contributed to rising camel deaths during Algerian summer heatwaves.

Wildfires killed 12 people and injured 54 others in northeastern Algeria on Wednesday as a severe heatwave and strong winds fueled more than 150 fires across the country. Interior Minister Said Sayoud said five people died in Jijel province, four in Bejaia and three in Tizi Ouzou. Six of the injured, all being treated for burns, were in critical condition. An eight-year-old boy and a 22-year-old woman were among those killed in Bejaia, according to local media. Authorities evacuated residents in Bejaia and Jijel and deployed substantial firefighting resources. By 8:00 p.m. local time, the civil protection agency reported that firefighters were battling 69 active blazes. Three major highways linking eastern regions were closed because of fires near Bejaia, Jijel and Setif. Local footage showed frightened residents taking shelter in a post office as smoke spread through the area. Sayoud and Health Minister Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudene travelled to Bejaia to assess firefighting operations and the condition of the injured. The fires occurred during an intense heatwave affecting North Africa. Forest fires are a recurring summer threat in northern Algeria, but climate change is increasing their impact through more frequent droughts and more intense heat. The disaster follows a deadly July 2023 fire season in which more than 30 people were killed and thousands of hectares of forests and farmland, as well as hundreds of homes, were destroyed around Bejaia. Authorities recorded nearly 2,000 fires nationwide in July 2026, while fires in Annaba later forced more than 100 people to flee and damaged almost 150 homes. Officials frequently investigate possible arson; four people in Constantine province were placed in pre-trial detention in connection with July fires.