At least 12 dead due to wildfires in Algeria

At least 12 people have died in the fires that have destroyed many hectares of Algerian forests. According to Algerie Eco on August 27, Algerian prime minister Said Sayoud has travelled to impacted wilayas (regions), accompanied by the minister of Health, Mohamed Seddik Ait Messadouene in Bejaia, in order to better understand the crisis unfolding in the localities.

Local radio Soummam Bejaia declared that four people have died in the Bejaia region, the fire additionally leaving at least 54 wounded, including 6 with serious health complications. The radio further added that one 22-year-old woman and an 8-year-old boy had died in the small village of Bouhyane, east of the Bejaia wilaya.

3 people have lost their lives in the Tizi Ouzou region: a 79-year-old mother and her two daughters, due to the smoke inhaled from a fire just a few kilometers away. 40 people have been admitted to the Boghni hospital for smoke inhalation.

Algerian authorities have recorded 159 fires across the territory and multiple different wilayas. 90 have now been put out, leaving 69 still active.

Many different routes have been closed due to the ongoing fires. The most affected axes of circulation are found in the north of the country. In Bejaia, the traffic has been interrupted on the RN9 connecting Kherrata and Taskriout. Two roads have been closed in Jilel, and many more throughout the country. Algerian authorities call for drivers’ utmost attention and care while driving, drawing particular attention to the blocked-off roads and putting an emphasis on not crossing any barred routes.

The 2026 summer has been particularly violent for Algeria in terms of forest fires. Heatwaves only intensified, creating a summer of nearly constant firefighting in the Northern regions. Only in July, more than 2000 fires were recorded throughout the country.

The Algerian city of Bouchegouf set a new record on August 27, reaching a temperature of 49.7°C. As Europe and North Africa have witnessed one of the warmest summers in decades, the question is how governments and authorities will address this crisis, which will only intensify with global warming.

Algerie Eco, La Presse, Maghebi.org