In brief
A series of wildfires hit Algeria’s northern coastline, killing at least 12 people and injuring over 50 others. The fires spread across provinces such as Jijel, Bejaia and Tizi Ouzou amid a severe heatwave that has heightened the country’s fire risk. Interior Minister Said Sayoud and Health Minister Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudene have assessed on‑scene damage and the emergency response, while firefighters battled 69 blazes nationwide. The tragedy underscores the growing impact of climate change and extreme temperatures on North Africa’s forests and communities.
At least 12 people have been killed and dozens injured as wildfires burn through large swathes of northern Algeria.
Civil protection authorities said dozens of blazes swept through several provinces along the country's northern coastline. Interior Minister Said Sayoud reported that at least 54 people sustained burn injuries, with six admitted to intensive care units.
The deaths come as the region is sweltering under a severe heatwave, with Tunisia and Algeria particularly affected. Sayoud, together with Health Minister Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudene, travelled to Bejaia to assess local firefighting and evacuation efforts.
Provinces most impacted include Jijel (5 deaths), Bejaia (4 deaths) and Tizi Ouzou (3 deaths). Many homes in Bejaia and Jijel have been evacuated, and footage from local broadcaster Jijel News shows residents taking refuge in a post office as smoke thickened.
Firefighters battled 69 blazes across the country, according to the civil protection agency. The Bejaia region, already known for a 2016 disaster that killed 30 people, saw devastating fires tear through forest and farmland.
Last month, authorities recorded at least six deaths caused by fires, with crews battling more than 2,000 blazes across Algeria in July. While Algeria regularly experiences forest fires during summer, climate change has intensified the severity of recent wildfires.
The World Meteorological Organization noted that extreme heat has become common in North Africa, which has seen the most rapid warming of the six African subregions between 1991 and 2025, averaging 0.43°C per decade. Rising temperatures and water shortages have also led to an increase in camel deaths during summer heatwaves, a recent study found.
Source: BBC News Africa. Read more
