In brief
A severe heatwave has set northern Algeria ablaze, killing at least 12 and injuring over 50. Blazes have ripped across the Bejaia, Jijel and Tizi Ouzou provinces, forcing mass evacuations and threatening homes and farms. Within a day, firefighting crews were battling 69 separate blazes nationwide. The disaster underscores the growing intensity of wildfires in Africa as climate change fuels extreme temperatures.
At least 12 people have died and many have been injured as wildfires flared across northern Algeria during a brutal heatwave.
Civil protection agencies reported that the fire spread through several provinces along the coastline, including Bejaia, Jijel and Tizi Ouzou. Over 500 km of forest and farmland were scorched, and more than 54 people suffered burns, with six seriously enough to require intensive care.
Interior Minister Said Sayoud flew to Bejaia together with Health Minister Mohamed Seddik to assess the firefighting response and the evacuation plans. Local media confirmed that thousands of residents were forced to flee their homes in emergency shelters such as post offices.
The government said 69 separate.fireworks had been fighting across the country, a stark reminder of an increasing trend of summer fires. The region suffered a devastating blaze in 2019 that killed 30 people.
Climate change has intensified these events. The World Meteorological Organization notes that North Africa experiences the fastest warming on the continent, rising by 0.43 °C per decade between 1991 and 2025. Heat and water shortages have already led to a surge in camel deaths during recent summer heatwaves.
Firefighters battled the blazes under thick smoke, with images showing them working for hours to bring the flames under control. The scene underscores the dangerous combination of dry vegetation and soaring temperatures that can turn a drought into a catastrophe.
More updates on the unfolding disaster are available on our live feeds and on the global network’s Arabic and French channels.
