25 people killed and 1,500 evacuated as wildfires spread across Algeria | Africa News

At least 25 people have died, including 10 soldiers, as wildfires rage across Algeria.

Fires have been burning across the country for several days now, with some spread by strong winds, spreading across forests and agricultural areas in 16 regions.

The 10 soldiers were killed as they tried to get the fires under control in a popular resort area close to the country’s capital of Algiers. 25 more soldiers were injured.

Algeria’s interior ministry announced 15 civilians have died and 24 have been injured so far – though it’s not yet clear when the deaths happened.

The firefighting effort is taking place at the same time as strong winds and heatwaves have triggered vicious wildfires in Greece.

Attempts to tamp down the fires included 7,500 firefighters and 350 fire engines on the ground, as well as air support.

At least 1,500 people have been evacuated, but the government didn’t provide any details about where they were moved from.

The largest and deadliest fires ravaged parts of Bejaia and Jijel – in the Kabyle region east of Algiers – and Bouira, about 60 miles south-east of Algiers.

Last August at least 37 people were killed when wildfires burned near Algeria’s border with Tunisia.

And in 2021 dozens were killed in fires – including soldiers who were called in to help tackle the wildfires in the country’s mountainous Kabyle region.

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