Hundreds forced to flee homes and at least 200 injured as firefighters battle string of blazes in El Tarf province
Algerian firefighters were on Thursday battling a string of blazes, fanned by drought and a blistering heatwave, that have killed at least 38 people and left destruction in their wake.
Deadly forest fires have become an annual scourge in the north African country, where the climate crisis is turning large areas into a tinderbox.
According to multiple sources, including local journalists and the fire service, at least 38 people have been killed, mostly in El Tarf province near Algeria’s eastern border with Tunisia, which was baking in 48C (118F) heat.
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At least 200 more people have suffered burns or respiratory problems from the smoke, according to Algerian media.
A journalist in El Tarf described scenes of devastation on the road to El Kala in the country’s far north-east.
“A tornado of fire swept everything away in seconds,” he told AFP by telephone. “Most of those who died were surrounded while visiting a wildlife park.”
Emergency services were still battling a blaze around Tonga Lake, he said.
An AFP team in El Kala reported a strong smell of smoke and said authorities feared that strong winds could cause new fires to break out.
They also saw major damage in the wildlife park and a witness, who asked not to be named, said 12 people had been burned to death in their bus as they tried to escape.
Several roads in the area were closed.
State television reported on Thursday morning that the prime minister, Ayman Benabderrahmane, was visiting the area.
Firefighters were also battling a large blaze in the mountainous area of Souk Ahras, a journalist in the area told AFP.
He described scenes of panic in the city of half a million people, where nearly 100 women and 17 newborn babies had to be evacuated from a hospital near the forest.
Algerian television showed people fleeing their burning homes, women carrying children in their arms. Local media reports said 350 people had fled their homes.
About 39 blazes were ravaging various parts of northern Algeria, according to the fire service, and there were fears that hot winds could spark new fires that authorities are ill-equipped to fight.
