Mass burial reveals hidden toll of Algeria’s deadly ‘Black Wednesday’ wildfires

What the report says

France24 Africa reported that a mass burial in the village of Djemaa Beni Habibi in Algeria’s northeastern Jijel region has deepened questions about the death toll from late-August wildfires nicknamed “Black Wednesday.” The fires swept across parts of Jijel beginning on August 26, and Algerian authorities had not released updated casualty figures after initially saying 12 people had died and 54 were injured.

According to the article, photos and videos posted by residents and viewed by FRANCE 24 Observers showed dozens of coffins and burial mounds at the cemetery, suggesting the number of victims could be far higher than the official total. The burial took place on August 28 and was attended by Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb and other officials, but local authorities did not disclose how many bodies were interred.

The report said village Facebook posts listed victims reportedly held in two hospitals, allowing observers to identify 72 names after removing duplicates. It also cited additional accounts from local officials, families and media that point to a much larger toll, though many figures remain unverified. The article noted that some social media users, including pro-Morocco accounts, have circulated misleading claims and reused footage from the disaster.

More broadly, the piece highlights how limited official updates and conflicting online content have made it difficult to establish the full human cost of the fires, which affected several towns in Jijel and nearby areas.