The death toll rose to 26 as forest fires raged across a dozen provinces in northeast Algeria, leaving at least 45 people injured, according to the Interior Ministry today. The disclosure came as authorities reported widespread damage and a race against heat, wind, and dry tinder that fuels every new blaze.
Interior Minister Kamel Beldjoud announced that two victims were killed in Sétif, while 24 others perished in El Tarf near the Tunisian border. Tragically, two tankers were lost, one carrying a child. With the help of army helicopters, firefighting aircraft were dispatched to the affected zones to support ground crews. Civil Protection has mobilized resources nationwide, calling on all personnel to respond, including those on leave, as part of an urgent effort to contain the fires. In the last 24 hours, authorities logged 39 fires across 14 provinces, and several major routes remain closed to traffic due to dangerous conditions.
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune issued condolences to the families of the deceased and pledged full state support to mobilize every available asset to battle the fires and provide care for the wounded. The government emphasized coordination across ministries and emergency services to accelerate relief, evacuation, and medical assistance as forests, towns, and farmlands face expanding threats.
Algeria, which contains about 4 million hectares of forest, has endured a brutal heat wave with daytime highs near 47 degrees Celsius. Summer conditions in the northern part of the country typically bring heightened wildfire activity. Last August, fires scorched approximately 100,000 hectares of forest across 26 of the 58 provinces, resulting in at least 90 deaths, including 33 soldiers who assisted in extinguishing efforts and evacuations. Authorities later signaled that a new bill was being drafted to impose prison terms of up to 30 years for deliberate arson in forest areas, with the possibility of life imprisonment if such acts cause death. The government also promised stronger firefighting resources, though no major tanker aircraft purchases had been announced at the time of the reporting. The current crisis underscores the ongoing need for resilient disaster response and regional cooperation to protect communities in the face of climate-driven fire threats.