Algeria battles new wave of forest fires amid heatwave

Major forest blazes broke out in Bejaia and Tizi Ouzou provinces in northern Algeria on Friday, two months after huge areas of woodland in the North African country were devastated in fires sparked by a heatwave.

While the flames in Tizi Ouzou were tackled by firefighters, the battle to control forest fires in Bejaia continues.

Fires were reported in the Mahoui forest near the town of Tichy on the outskirts on Bejaia city, and another in the Ash Al-Baz forest in Bejaia province, according to a statement released on Saturday by the Civil Defence.

A third fire was reported in the forest of Igdasn village in Tizi Ouzou province.

🤲🏽 Pray for Algeria 🇩🇿

A huge fire has broken out in the forest of the city of Béjaïa, and has been spreading due to high winds.

May Allah protect everyone. pic.twitter.com/wY3666Q1J8

— • (@Alhamdhulillaah) September 16, 2023

Civil defence teams were mobilised to put out fires and evacuate residents from the affected areas to prevent potential casualties.

Videos shared by Algerian activists and media showed firefighters battling the flames as they spread in the affected forests.

Intervention teams from the neighbouring provinces of Bordj Bou Arreridj, Setif, and Bouira joined forces to combat the flames.

Intense fires in the same area claimed the lives of 34 people in late July.

The country's meteorological service issued a special alert for a heatwave in the northeastern regions, including Bejaia and Tizi Ouzou, for Saturday and Sunday. Temperatures are expected to soar to 43°C (109.4°F).