Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune confirmed during a meeting with Algerian journalists that six aircraft have been leased to combat forest fires, as reported by the Algerian newspaper Al-Bilad. Only one of these aircraft was present in Algeria at the time.
Tebboune noted that a large specialized fire-extinguishing aircraft has been received, and instructed the government to utilize the latest locally manufactured technologies during the summer season for forest area surveillance.
The President assured that the fires have been controlled in several areas across the country. Algeria had been grappling with massive forest fires in various regions, which sadly resulted in the loss of several citizens.
On a related note, the Algerian National Gendarmerie in Hassania, Ain Defla province, arrested five suspects in connection with intentionally starting forest fires. One individual was jailed, while two were placed under judicial supervision.
Algerian authorities managed to contain the fires that raged in their forests, which had claimed the lives of at least 34 people, including ten soldiers, and forced approximately 1500 people to evacuate their homes according to the state television.
Each summer, the north and east of Algeria witness fires that affect forests and agricultural lands. This phenomenon, exacerbated year after year due to climate change effects leading to drought and heatwaves, is a recurring problem.
Recently, North Africa and Southern Europe experienced an intense heatwave, with temperatures reaching 49 degrees Celsius in Tunisian cities.
Days ago, the Public Prosecutor at the Sidi M’Hamed Court in the capital, Algiers, informed the Anti-terrorism and Organized Crime Department that following the outbreak of forest fires in several provinces across the country, 12 suspects have been apprehended.
In conclusion, Algeria’s proactive measures, from leasing firefighting aircraft to utilizing advanced technologies and performing arrests, signify the country’s determination to mitigate the recurrent threat of forest fires, increasingly exacerbated by climate change.
