ALGERIA / RankWire.AI / – Wildfires across northeastern Algeria have killed at least 12 people and injured 54, authorities said Wednesday night. Five deaths occurred in Jijel, four in Bejaia and three in Tizi Ouzou, Interior Minister Said Sayoud said. Six injured people remained in critical condition and were receiving intensive care after suffering burns. The fires spread across several provinces during a severe heatwave affecting Algeria and other parts of North Africa.
Fire crews faced dozens of active blazes as authorities moved families from threatened areas near forests and residential districts. By 8 p.m. local time Wednesday, officials had recorded at least 159 vegetation fires across several provinces. Crews had extinguished 90 fires, while 69 remained active at that time. Bejaia had 18 active fires, followed by Skikda with 13, Tizi Ouzou with 12 and Jijel with seven.
Algeria’s Civil Protection deployed ground teams, mobile columns, helicopters and firefighting aircraft to support operations in the hardest-hit areas. Authorities used Air Tractor AT-802 planes and a BE-200 water bomber during the response. Officials also activated emergency plans where needed as smoke reduced visibility and fires moved near homes. Evacuations took place in several communities as crews focused on protecting residents, property and transport routes.
Firefighting operations expand across northeastern provinces
Bejaia remained one of the main centers of the emergency, with fires affecting several municipalities in the mountainous coastal province. Sayoud traveled there with Health Minister Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudene to inspect firefighting operations and hospital care. The delegation visited the hospital in Souk El Tenine, where teams treated people with burns and smoke-related injuries. Officials also reviewed conditions for patients as emergency services continued working across nearby communities.
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune directed the ministerial visit to Bejaia as the government coordinated firefighting and medical support. The Interior Ministry said emergency services were working with local authorities and other agencies to contain the fires. Crews concentrated resources on areas where flames threatened residents or strong winds complicated suppression efforts. The ministry said aerial and ground units remained engaged across several affected provinces on Wednesday.
Heatwave coincides with widespread wildfire outbreak
The wildfire outbreak came during an intense heatwave across Algeria and neighboring parts of North Africa. Summer wildfires regularly affect the country’s forested Mediterranean regions. Many affected communities lie in mountainous and wooded areas across northern Algeria. Civil Protection has repeatedly mobilized national and local units during periods of high fire activity this summer.
The latest deaths add to a difficult summer fire season that has damaged forests, farmland and homes in parts of Algeria. Authorities have not announced a final estimate of land or property losses from the current outbreak. Firefighting teams continued suppression and evacuation operations as officials tracked active hotspots across northeastern provinces. The confirmed toll remained 12 dead and 54 injured in the latest figures available early Thursday.