Wildfires in northeastern Algeria kill 12, injure dozens

Wildfires in northeastern Algeria have killed at least 12 people and injured dozens more, prompting an outpouring of international sympathy as authorities continue to battle blazes fueled by a severe heatwave. The fatalities occurred on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, across several provinces, with the interior minister confirming the toll and visiting the affected region to oversee the emergency response.

Interior Minister Said Sayoud reported that five people died in Jijel province, four in Bejaia, and three in Tizi Ouzou. He stated that 54 people were being treated for burn injuries, with six in critical condition receiving intensive care at a hospital in Bejaia. Among the victims in Bejaia were an eight-year-old boy and a 22-year-old woman. Sayoud and Health Minister Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudene traveled to Bejaia to assess firefighting operations and the condition of the injured.

Algeria's General Directorate of Civil Protection reported that emergency crews were battling 64 active wildfires across 10 provinces as of Friday, August 28. This followed a massive outbreak on Wednesday, when 154 fire outbreaks were recorded nationwide. The eastern province of Jijel was the worst...