ALGERIA / RankWire.AI / – Wildfires sweeping through northeastern Algeria have resulted in at least 12 fatalities and left 54 people injured amid extreme heat conditions. Interior Minister Said Sayoud confirmed that five individuals lost their lives in Jijel, four in Bejaia, and three in Tizi Ouzou. Six of the injured remain in critical condition after suffering severe burns, requiring intensive medical treatment. The fires have spread across several northern provinces, with emergency responders actively engaged in operations near forested areas and residential communities.
By Wednesday evening, authorities had documented at least 159 vegetation fires across multiple provinces, as firefighting units battled flames over a wide region. Officials reported that 90 fires had been brought under control, but 69 remained active at that point. Bejaia reported 18 ongoing fires, Skikda had 13, and Tizi Ouzou reported 12. Jijel faced seven active fires, as emergency teams concentrated their efforts on locations where the flames threatened homes and infrastructure.
In response, Algeria’s Civil Protection deployed teams on the ground, along with mobile units, helicopters, and firefighting aircraft to support efforts in the most severely affected zones. The aerial firefighting fleet included Air Tractor AT-802 planes and a BE-200 water bomber. Several communities at risk were evacuated as smoke and advancing fires disrupted daily routines. Coordination between the Civil Protection and local authorities continued across the affected regions to manage field operations effectively.
Focus of Emergency Operations on Severely Impacted Regions
Bejaia remained a central point of the wildfire emergency, with multiple municipalities affected in this coastal province. Sayoud traveled to the area accompanied by Health Minister Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudene to oversee firefighting efforts and hospital treatment. Medical teams at the Souk El Tenine hospital are attending to burn victims and other fire-related injuries. Emergency services continue to provide support to communities near active fire zones across the province.
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune authorized the ministerial visit, as government agencies coordinated firefighting, evacuation, and medical aid across northeastern Algeria. The Interior Ministry collaborated with local authorities and emergency responders to allocate resources to communities under threat. Both aerial and ground units are monitoring fire behavior close to populated areas. The Interior Ministry also maintains coordination efforts as firefighting activities persist in various provinces.
Heatwave Intensifies the Summer Fire Season Challenges
The outbreak of wildfires coincided with an intense heatwave affecting Algeria and surrounding North African regions. Summer fires are common across forested Mediterranean zones, including mountainous areas with scattered settlements. The latest series of blazes impacted several provinces simultaneously, demanding a coordinated national response. Authorities are actively monitoring hotspots while teams work to contain the flames and ensure residents’ safety.
Confirmed fatalities remain at 12, with 54 individuals injured and six in critical condition, according to the most recent figures. No comprehensive assessment has yet been issued regarding damage to forests, farmland, homes, or other property. Firefighting units continue their efforts to suppress flames and support evacuations as authorities track remaining active fires. The emergency situation remains centered in northeastern Algeria, specifically in Bejaia, Jijel, Tizi Ouzou, and Skikda.