Fires in Algeria: Dozens dead, thousands evacuated

(Patria) - At least 34 people have died and thousands have been evacuated after fires broke out across Algeria. On Monday, 97 forest fires were recorded in 16 provinces, affecting forests, crops, and agricultural land. Around 8,000 firefighters are battling the fires, the BBC reported.

Twenty-six people were also injured, and 1,500 evacuated from their homes in Fenaija, Bejaja, Zbarbar, and Bouira.

Ten soldiers died fighting the fires in Bejaja, the Ministry of Defence announced. The largest fires, in the mountainous Kabylie region east of the capital Algiers, spread to residential areas in the coastal cities of Bejaia and Jijel, fueled by strong winds.

Authorities have announced that they have launched a judicial investigation into the causes of the fires.
Northern Algeria has been experiencing a record heatwave in recent days, with temperatures reaching 48C. Temperatures in several regions in North Africa are up to 7C higher than normal for this time of year. Algerian meteorologists say temperatures above 48 degrees are likely to remain until the end of the month in the north of the country.