The Ministry of the Interior reported that Civil Protection managed to extinguish most of the fires, approximately 80%, after an uninterrupted mobilization during the night from Monday to Tuesday. However, there are still 13 active outbreaks in seven provinces in the north and east of Algeria. Since Sunday, nearly 100 fires have been reported in more than 15 provinces, with Bejaia (east), Jijel, and Al Buira being the most affected.
These areas had already been hit by serious fires in the last two years, with a total of around 130 people dead. The Ministry of the Interior attributes the success in containing the flames to the mobilization of air resources and an improvement in weather conditions.
More than 8,000 civil protection agents and 525 trucks have been deployed, as well as firefighting planes and helicopters, including a high-capacity bomber. The north and east of Algeria experience recurring fires during the summer, a phenomenon that worsens every year due to climate change and is characterized by droughts and heat waves.
The fires have prompted the evacuation of more than 1,500 people. Local media have shown shocking images of burning fields, charred cars, and burned-out storefronts. Even seaside resorts have been affected.
In the midst of the tragedy, some survivors share their heartbreaking testimonies, such as an elderly man who lost his home and his family in the flames. In August 2022, 37 people lost their lives in the El Taref region, in the northeast of the country, due to fires. Additionally, the summer of 2021 was the deadliest in decades, with more than 90 people killed.
Neighboring Tunisia is also facing fires, including a region that had already been devastated by flames the previous week and three other areas in the northwest. The magnitude of the situation demands an urgent response and greater awareness of the impacts of climate change on the frequency and intensity of forest fires in the region.