At least 12 people have died and dozens more have been injured as wildfires swept through large areas of northern Algeria, according to civil protection authorities. The blazes have affected several provinces along the country's northern coastline, intensifying the impact of a severe heatwave affecting North Africa.
Interior Minister Said Sayoud reported on Wednesday night that 54 people had suffered burn injuries, with at least six requiring intensive care. The fatalities were reported in Jijel province (five dead), Bejaia (four dead), and Tizi Ouzou (three dead). Sayoud, along with the Algerian Health Minister Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudene, traveled to Bejaia to assess firefighting and evacuation efforts. Many homes in Bejaia and Jijel have been evacuated, with local media showing footage of residents seeking refuge from thick smoke.
Firefighters were contending with 69 active blazes across the country on Wednesday evening. This region has a history of devastating fires; Bejaia, in particular, experienced fires three years ago that killed 30 people. Last month alone, Algeria recorded at least six deaths from fires and battled over 2,000 blazes in July.
While Algeria typically experiences forest fires during the summer months, climate change is cited as a factor exacerbating the intensity and severity of recent wildfires. The World Meteorological Organization has noted that extreme heat is becoming common in North Africa, which is experiencing the most rapid warming in Africa, with temperatures rising 0.43C per decade between 1991 and 2025. The increased heat and water shortages have also been linked to a rise in camel deaths during summer heatwaves in Algeria, according to a recent study.