In brief
A surge of wildfires tore across northern Algeria’s coast, claiming at least 12 lives and injuring more than 50 residents. The blaze spread through provinces such as Jijel, Bejaia and Tizi Ouzou, causing widespread evacuations and prompting a federal response. Climate experts point to escalating heat and water shortages as major drivers of the crisis, underscoring the urgency of addressing climate change impacts in North Africa. As fire crews battle a staggering 69 separate blazes nationwide, the suffering continues to grow, and authorities are scrambling to restore safety and stability to the affected communities.
A surge of wildfires tore across northern Algeria’s coast, claiming at least twelve lives and injuring more than fifty residents.
The blaze spread through provinces such as Jijel, Bejaia and Tizi Ouzou, forcing mass evacuations and prompting a federal response. Interior Minister Said Sayoud confirmed six deaths in Jijel, four in Bejaia and three in Tizi Ouzou and led a visitation to Bejaia to assess local firefighting and evacuation efforts.
Citizens in Bejaia and Jijel were seen sheltering in post offices as thick smoke billowed across the towns, according to footage shared by local broadcaster Jijel News. Firefighters battled 69 separate blazes nationwide the previous evening, a rise from a prior record of more than two thousand blazes during July alone.
Experts attribute the devastating intensity to the region’s rapid warming – 0.43°C per decade between 1991 and 2025 – coupled with dwindling water supplies, conditions that have already increased camel mortality during summer heatwaves, as revealed by recent studies.
Algeria’s repeated struggle with forest fires in the summer months has amplified the crisis, compelling authorities to focus urgently on enhancing fire prevention, climate adaptation and emergency response mechanisms.
