At least 12 people have died and more than 50 others sustained injuries as raging wildfires swept across parts of northern Algeria amid an intense heatwave.
Algerian authorities reported that numerous fires erupted in provinces bordering the Mediterranean, forcing emergency teams to launch firefighting, rescue and evacuation operations.
Interior Minister Said Sayoud said on Wednesday evening that 54 people had suffered burns, including six whose conditions required intensive medical care.
Five fatalities were recorded in Jijel, while Bejaia reported four deaths and Tizi Ouzou three, according to the minister.
Sayoud travelled to Bejaia alongside Health Minister Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudene to inspect emergency operations and evaluate measures taken to protect residents.
Authorities and local media said residents were evacuated from several communities in Bejaia and Jijel as flames approached homes.
Video broadcast by Jijel News showed people sheltering inside a post office while dense smoke surrounded the building.
The Civil Protection agency said firefighters were dealing with 69 active fires nationwide on Wednesday evening.
Bejaia has previously experienced deadly summer fires.
In 2021, forest and agricultural areas in the province were devastated by wildfires that claimed 30 lives.
The latest disaster follows a particularly difficult July, when Algerian authorities recorded six fire-related deaths and crews responded to more than 2,000 separate incidents.
Seasonal bush and forest fires are common in Algeria, but experts say a warming climate is contributing to hotter and more dangerous conditions, increasing the likelihood and severity of major outbreaks.
The World Meteorological Organization has warned that extreme temperatures are becoming increasingly frequent across North Africa.
Between 1991 and 2025, the region recorded a warming rate of about 0.43°C per decade, the fastest pace among Africa’s six subregions.
Scientists have also linked prolonged heat and declining water availability to growing risks for livestock.
A recent study found that severe summer conditions have contributed to rising numbers of camel deaths in Algeria.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong