Algiers, Algeria—Intense heat and dry winds drove a destructive wave of wildfires across northeastern Algeria, leaving twelve people dead. Emergency services battled more than 150 simultaneous blazes that ripped through forests and rural villages.
The fatalities spanned several provinces, including Jijel, Bejaia, and Tizi Ouzou. Hospitals admitted 54 individuals suffering from severe burns and smoke inhalation, with several patients placed in intensive care units.
Fierce winds pushed flames toward residential neighborhoods, forcing hurried precautionary evacuations. Families fled homes on foot as thick black smoke blanketed regional roadways.
"Our teams are stretched to the absolute limit trying to contain active fronts while protecting civilian populations," a civil protection spokesperson said during an evening briefing.
Authorities deployed specialized aerial firefighting assets, including heavy water-dropping aircraft, to target blazes in inaccessible mountainous terrain. Ground crews cut firebreaks through brush to stop the rapid advance of the flames.
The fires erupted amid an exceptional heat wave gripping North Africa, sending temperatures soaring well above seasonal norms. Parched vegetation turned regional landscapes into tinderboxes.
Firefighters continue working through the night to secure smoldering perimeters and prevent flare-ups.
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