In the last 48 hours, Algerian civil protection services have counted 73 fires in several provinces, without recording any human casualties. According to Al Hurra, the latest fire was extinguished today in the Bani Aziz area of Setif province, eastern Algeria, destroying agricultural crops.
At least 10 fires erupted in the provinces of Oum El Bouaghi, Bejaia, Tizi Ouzou, Bordj Bou Arreridj, Mila, Setif, Skikda, and Biskra, affecting forests, bushes, agricultural crops, and palm oases. In some provinces, firefighting aircraft were deployed to combat the fires amid a heatwave hitting the country.
Algeria has experienced significant forest fires in recent years. July of last year saw about 100 fires break out in over 15 provinces in Algeria, particularly in Bouira, Jijel, and Bejaia—areas already impacted in 2021 and 2022 by severe fires that claimed approximately 130 lives.
The public prosecutor in Bejaia at the time ordered preliminary investigations to determine the causes of the fires and identify those responsible. In April of the previous year, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced the purchase of six specialized firefighting aircraft.
