Algeria battles 22 forest fires across eight provinces amid heatwave

Algerian Civil Defense units are engaged in a widespread firefighting operation against numerous forest fires that have broken out across eight different provinces. The most intense blazes are concentrated in the mountainous areas of Tipaza province, located west of the capital Algiers, leading to precautionary evacuations in populated areas like Hadjret Ennous to ensure public safety.

Emergency Response and Evacuations

According to official statements, approximately 22 separate fires were recorded, affecting regions in the east, center, and west of the North African nation. Gendarmerie and civil protection teams were mobilized to evacuate residents from the path of the flames. Authorities have since reported that the situation is largely under control, thanks to the efforts of crews who worked through the night battling the fires despite challenging conditions, including winds exceeding 60 kilometers per hour.

Extreme Weather and Environmental Context

The fires coincide with an intense and unseasonable heatwave affecting northern Algeria, driven by hot southern winds known as sirocco. Temperatures in Algiers reached 31°C (87.8°F), which is unusually high for this period, which typically experiences rain and even snowfall. This event exacerbates a severe, multi-year drought that has plagued Algeria's central and western regions, depleting water reserves and significantly increasing the vulnerability of forests to fires.

A Recurring National Challenge

Large-scale forest fires have become a recurring and devastating phenomenon in Algeria. Since 2022, successive drought waves and extreme heat have led to unprecedented fire seasons, resulting in dozens of fatalities, hundreds of injuries, and the destruction of tens of thousands of hectares of forest and vegetation. This ongoing environmental crisis highlights the broader regional challenges of climate change and resource management.