Wildfires kill 12 in Algeria as severe heatwave sweeps North Africa

At least 12 individuals have perished and dozens more sustained injuries in wildfires ravaging northern Algeria, according to civil protection authorities. Dozens of separate blazes tore through several provinces along the nation's northern coastline. Interior Minister Said Sayoud disclosed on Wednesday night that a minimum of 54 people suffered burn injuries, with six of them requiring intensive care.

The fatalities coincide with a severe heatwave engulfing northern Africa, particularly Tunisia and Algeria. Five lives were claimed in Jijel province, four in Bejaia, and three in Tizi Ouzou. Interior Minister Sayoud has journeyed to Bejaia alongside Health Minister Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudene to evaluate local firefighting and evacuation measures, as per government sources.

Numerous homes in Bejaia and Jijel have been evacuated, as reported by the civil protection agency and local media outlets. Footage from Jijel News depicted residents seeking refuge in a post office amid thick smoke. Firefighters were combating 69 separate fires across the country by early Wednesday evening. The Bejaia region experienced devastating fires three years ago, claiming the lives of 30 people. In July, authorities recorded at least six deaths due to fires, with over 2,000 blazes under control.

While Algeria routinely faces forest fires during the summer months, climate change has intensified the severity and intensity of recent wildfires. The World Meteorological Organization noted that extreme heat has become commonplace in North Africa, where it has witnessed the most rapid warming of the six African subregions, with a rate of 0.43 degrees Celsius per decade between 1991 and 2025.

Rising temperatures and water scarcity have also contributed to an increase in camel deaths during summer heatwaves in Algeria, as reported by a recent study.