Algerian Wildfires Claim Numerous Lives as Temperatures Surge Towards 50C

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Devastating wildfires have wreaked havoc in Algeria and spread to Tunisia as an ongoing heatwave in the Mediterranean region has ignited uncontrollable flames.

These wildfires, fueled by scorching temperatures, have destroyed homes, forced the evacuation of thousands of tourists from Greece’s Rhodes island, and now pose a threat to the dry and mountainous areas of northern Algeria and Tunisia.

Scientists attribute the near-record high temperatures in the Mediterranean to climate change and have warned of more intense and prolonged heatwaves in the future.

The Algerian interior ministry reported that 34 people, including 10 soldiers, have lost their lives battling the fires. The province of Bejaia has witnessed the highest death toll with 22 fatalities and about 200 injuries.

Approximately 1,500 individuals have been evacuated from the worst-hit areas, while over 100 fires have erupted across more than a dozen provinces. Around 8,000 firefighters are presently working to extinguish the flames, which have been fueled by temperatures reaching 50°C in some parts of the country.

In recent years, northern Algeria has regularly witnessed summer wildfires. Last year, 37 people perished in forest fires, while numerous deaths were recorded in 2021 as fires blazed through the forested mountains of the Kabylie region.

Tunisia, Algeria’s neighboring country, has also experienced extreme temperatures, with some towns near the border reaching 49°C.

The village of Melloula in Jendouba province, Tunisia, has been encircled by devastating fires, prompting authorities to launch evacuation efforts, including boat rescues.

Adel Abidi, director of civil protection in Jendouba, described the situation as “serious and frightening,” attributing the fires’ resurgence to the heatwave, strong winds, and persistent fire hotspots from the previous week.

Tunisian army units have been deployed to Melloula to contain the fires and assist the local population. The air force is utilizing military helicopters and C130 aircraft to extinguish fires near the Tabarka airport.

In Egypt, soaring temperatures have forced the introduction of rotating power blackouts due to increased demand for electricity to power air conditioners.