Wildfires kill 12 in Algeria as severe heatwave sweeps North Africa

What the report says

Twelve people were killed and 54 others were injured as wildfires spread through northern Algeria on Wednesday, according to France24 Africa citing Algerian authorities. Interior Minister Said Sayoud said the deaths were reported in Jijel, Bejaia and Tizi Ouzou provinces, while six of the injured were in critical condition and receiving intensive care. Officials said firefighting teams were confronting more than 150 blazes across the country as a severe heatwave gripped North Africa.

France24 Africa reported that Sayoud and Health Minister Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudene visited Bejaia to review response efforts and the condition of the injured. Civil protection services recorded 154 fires nationwide, including 36 in Bejaia province, where 18 had been brought under control. The article also said families were evacuated in several areas, including Bejaia and Jijel, as flames neared populated neighborhoods.

The report places the fires in the context of Algeria’s recurring summer wildfire season, which authorities and international reporting have linked to drought and climate pressures in the broader region. France24 Africa noted that the country has seen repeated losses from forest fires in recent years, including deaths and damage to homes, farmland and woodland. The current blaze cluster underscores the continuing strain on emergency services during extreme heat.