At Least 12 Dead as Wildfires Sweep Northern Algeria
At least 12 people have been killed and dozens injured as wildfires burn through large swathes of northern Algeria. According to BBC, civil protection authorities said dozens of blazes swept through several provinces along the country's northern coastline, with at least 54 people suffering burn injuries, six of whom are in intensive care. Interior Minister Said Sayoud confirmed the deaths occurred in the provinces of Jijel, Bejaia and Tizi Ouzou.
By Source Reporters Newsdesk
Thu, 27 August 2026 · 2 min read
At least 12 people have been killed and dozens injured as wildfires burn through large swathes of northern Algeria. According to BBC, civil protection authorities said dozens of blazes swept through several provinces along the country's northern coastline, with at least 54 people suffering burn injuries, six of whom are in intensive care. Interior Minister Said Sayoud confirmed the deaths occurred in the provinces of Jijel, Bejaia and Tizi Ouzou.
Al Jazeera reports that Civil Protection teams recorded 154 fire outbreaks across Algeria in a single day, with 36 in Bejaia province alone. According to the outlet, Sayoud said firefighting teams have managed to contain blazes in several provinces but operations were still underway in Bejaia and Jijel, where dozens of families have been evacuated from affected areas. Images broadcast by regional news website Jijel News showed residents seeking refuge in a post office amid thick smoke.
The fires come as northern Africa swelters under a severe heatwave, with Tunisia and Algeria particularly affected. According to BBC, the World Meteorological Organization said extreme heat had become common in North Africa, a region that has seen the most rapid warming of the six subregions of Africa – 0.43°C per decade – between 1991 and 2025. Rising heat and water shortages have also led to an increase in camel deaths during summer heatwaves in Algeria, a recent study revealed.
Algeria frequently experiences deadly seasonal wildfires during peak summer months, but climate change has exacerbated the intensity and severity of recent blazes. According to Al Jazeera, intense heatwaves and fierce winds have amplified fire risks across the country's forested Mediterranean coastline, disasters exacerbated by drought and climate change. Last month alone, at least six people were killed in fires, with crews battling more than 2,000 blazes across Algeria in July.
The Bejaia region saw devastating fires tear through forest and farmland three years ago when 30 people were killed. Sayoud has travelled to Bejaia with the Algerian Health Minister to "assess" local firefighting and evacuation efforts, government officials said.
**Sources:** BBC, aljazeera.com
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