Forest fires have broken out in the eastern regions of Algeria, resulting in significant casualties and property damage.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, citing international media reports, the natural disaster has claimed the lives of 12 people.
Algerian Interior Minister Said Sayoud provided an official statement regarding the ongoing fires in the eastern provinces. According to preliminary assessments, the fatalities include four residents in Bejaia, five in Jijel, and three in the Tizi Ouzou province.
Emergency response teams are currently working to contain the blazes. The General Directorate of Civil Protection of Algeria reported yesterday that, amid a severe heatwave affecting the region, 58 forest fires were recorded. While 21 of these fires have been brought under control, efforts to extinguish the remaining 37 are ongoing.
Algeria, the largest country in Africa, frequently faces severe forest fires during the summer months due to its Mediterranean climate, which is characterized by hot, dry summers. These conditions are often exacerbated by climate change, leading to increased frequency and intensity of wildfires. It is worth noting that large-scale forest fires in Algeria last month resulted in the deaths of six people, highlighting the recurring vulnerability of the region to such environmental hazards.
