Algerian media announced today, Thursday, that the death toll from the fires that broke out in the north and east of the country has risen to 41, and 161 injured.

Al-Jazeera correspondent said that the forest fires that hit 14 states also caused a number of roads to be cut off and the fire approached some cities.

The Algerian gendarmerie forces appealed to road users to be careful, and if possible to avoid walking on the roads adjacent to the forested areas, to avoid risks related to fires and the huge rise in temperatures.


The Algerian authorities announced the evacuation of 350 families in the state of Souk Ahras, and the deployment of 700 civil defense personnel to participate in extinguishing the fires.

The authorities also closed major roads in the border state of El Tarf with Tunisia, and called not to go to the areas near the fires or the "Umm Taboul" border crossing with Tunisia until the fires were extinguished.

The Algerian Civil Protection said that 39 fires are still ongoing in 14 states, and that the state of El Tarf alone recorded 16 fires.

Interior Minister Kamal Beljoud explained that since the beginning of this month, 106 fires have broken out, destroying 800 hectares (one hectare equals 10,000 square meters) of forests, and more than 1,300 hectares of bushes.

The minister added that there were arson fires and others that erupted from natural causes, without providing additional details.

He stated that the recent period witnessed a noticeable rise in temperatures, which reached 47 degrees in many states with strong winds.

In a statement, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune offered his condolences to the families of the victims in the states of El Tarf and Setif.

Tebboune stressed that government institutions should harness all capabilities;

The human and material resources to put out the fires and take care of the injured.

Last year, at least 90 people died in the forest fires that swept northern Algeria, and the fires destroyed more than 100,000 hectares of forest.

Tunisia fires

In Tunisia, sources in the Tunisian Civil Defense said that several fires broke out simultaneously in the outskirts of the capital and the governorates of Jendouba and Beja.

The sources suggested that the high temperatures were the reason behind these fires.

The sources added that the civil defense forces evacuated the residents near the areas of the fires.