At least 12 dead as wildfires sweep through northern Algeria

What the report says

At least 12 people have died and dozens more have been injured as wildfires spread across northern Algeria, according to BBC World News. The fires have affected several provinces along the country’s northern coast, with fatalities reported in Jijel, Bejaia and Tizi Ouzou. Interior Minister Said Sayoud said at least 54 people suffered burn injuries, including six who were being treated in intensive care.

The BBC reported that firefighting crews were still battling dozens of blazes, while civil protection authorities and local media said homes in Bejaia and Jijel were being evacuated. Sayoud and Health Minister Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudene travelled to Bejaia to assess firefighting and evacuation efforts. Footage from local broadcaster Jijel News showed residents sheltering in a post office as smoke spread through the area.

The fires come during a severe heatwave affecting North Africa, with Tunisia and Algeria among the hardest hit. BBC World News also noted that Algeria regularly faces summer forest fires, but recent seasons have been especially severe. The outlet said climate change has worsened the intensity of fires in the region, adding broader context to a disaster that has repeatedly strained emergency services and affected forested and farmland areas in northern Algeria.