The Algerian Ministry of Interior announced today, Monday, that 15 people have died and 26 others have been injured in forest fires in the provinces of Béjaïa, Bouira, and Jijel.

The ministry stated in a statement during the night of Monday, July 24, 2023, that 97 forest, shrub, and agricultural crop fires have been recorded across 16 provinces.

The provinces of Béjaïa, Bouira, and Jijel recorded the widest-scale fires due to the strong winds experienced in these areas, with some extending to populated villages, resulting in 15 casualties and 26 injuries, while 1,500 citizens were evacuated, particularly in the municipality of Fnaïa in the Kasr district and the municipality of Zbarbar in the El-Khroub district.

It also added that 7,500 firefighters and 350 trucks of various sizes, in addition to aerial resources, have been mobilized to extinguish the fires, which has allowed for the control of most of them.

It mentioned that firefighting operations are currently ongoing in six (06) provinces: Boumerdes, Bouira, Tizi Ouzou, Béjaïa, Jijel, and Skikda.