A series of wildfires has engulfed multiple provinces across northern Algeria, claiming at least 12 lives and leaving dozens hospitalized. According to Interior Minister Said Sayoud, the fatalities were distributed across three regions, with five deaths recorded in Jijel province, four in Bejaia, and three in Tizi Ouzou. An additional 54 people sustained burn injuries, with six individuals requiring intensive care treatment.
Civil protection authorities reported that firefighters were actively combating 69 separate blazes throughout the country on Wednesday evening. Residents in affected areas, particularly in Bejaia and Jijel provinces, were evacuated from their homes as the fires spread across forests and agricultural land. Local media captured images of civilians sheltering in buildings as smoke blanketed surrounding areas.
The outbreak occurs during an exceptionally severe heatwave affecting northern Africa, with Tunisia and Algeria bearing the brunt of the extreme temperatures. Sayoud traveled to Bejaia with Health Minister Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudene to assess the response operations, including firefighting and evacuation procedures. The Bejaia region has faced similar disasters recently, having experienced devastating wildfires three years ago that killed 30 people.
While Algeria typically experiences summer fire seasons, experts attribute the increased intensity and frequency of recent blazes to climate change. According to the World Meteorological Organization, North Africa has experienced the most rapid warming across African subregions, with temperatures rising at a rate of 0.43 degrees Celsius per decade between 1991 and 2025. The combination of rising heat and water scarcity has created conditions conducive to larger and more severe wildfires, with authorities reporting over 2,000 blazes across Algeria in July alone and at least six fire-related deaths the previous month.
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