Algeria in flames

Over the past few days, 39 fires have ravaged 14 Algerian departments (wilayas), several of which were still raging on 18 August 2022.

The provisional toll shows at least 38 dead and more than 200 injured. More than 350 families had to evacuate their homes and were forced to flee. A fire tornado caused extensive damage to an animal park and resulted in the death of 12 people who burned to death in a bus outside the zoo.

The Algerian government has opened an investigation to determine the origin of the fires.

Since the beginning of August 2022, 106 fires have broken out in Algeria, destroying 800 hectares of forest and 1 800 hectares of coppice.