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At least 12 people have been killed and 54 others injured in devastating wildfires that swept through several provinces in northeastern Algeria amid an intense heatwave, authorities said.
The fatalities were reported in three provinces: five in Jijel, four in Bejaia and three in Tizi Ouzou, Interior Minister Said Sayoud said.
The 54 injured people suffered burn injuries, with six reported to be in critical condition and receiving treatment in intensive care.
Algeria’s Civil Protection services recorded 154 wildfires across the country on Wednesday, including 36 in Bejaia province.
Eighteen of those fires had been brought under control.
Authorities evacuated dozens of families from affected areas as flames approached residential communities.
Firefighting operations remained underway in several provinces, including Bejaia and Jijel.
The fires erupted as a severe heatwave swept across Algeria and neighbouring Tunisia, creating extremely dangerous conditions for the spread of wildfires.
Algeria regularly experiences destructive forest fires during the summer, with drought, extreme heat and climate change contributing to increased fire risks.