This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-62581108
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Algeria forest fires: At least 26 dead, minister says | Algeria forest fires: At least 26 dead, minister says |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| This image, dated 17 August 2022, shows firefighters on the ground in Setif | |
| At least 26 people have been killed and dozens more injured in forest fires that have devastated northern Algeria. | At least 26 people have been killed and dozens more injured in forest fires that have devastated northern Algeria. |
| Kamel Beldjoud, the country's interior minister, said 24 died in El Tarf, near the border with Tunisia, as well as a mother and daughter in Setif. | Kamel Beldjoud, the country's interior minister, said 24 died in El Tarf, near the border with Tunisia, as well as a mother and daughter in Setif. |
| Firefighters, supported by helicopters, were still trying to contain several blazes on Wednesday evening. | Firefighters, supported by helicopters, were still trying to contain several blazes on Wednesday evening. |
| Reports say some 350 residents have been evacuated in various provinces. | Reports say some 350 residents have been evacuated in various provinces. |
| The civil protection agency said that El Tarf was the worst hit area with 16 fires in progress. | The civil protection agency said that El Tarf was the worst hit area with 16 fires in progress. |
| The names of the mother, 58, and her 36-year-old daughter who died in Setif have not yet been released, but officials there said flames had reached dozens of homes and villages. | The names of the mother, 58, and her 36-year-old daughter who died in Setif have not yet been released, but officials there said flames had reached dozens of homes and villages. |
| Northern Algeria is affected by forest fires every year, with 90 people thought to have died in them last year - and more than 100,000 hectares of woodland burnt. | Northern Algeria is affected by forest fires every year, with 90 people thought to have died in them last year - and more than 100,000 hectares of woodland burnt. |
| Last August, Mr Beldjoud blamed a spate of fires in Algeria's Kabyle region on arson, claiming "only criminal hands" could explain "the simultaneous outbreak of about 50 fires across several localities". | Last August, Mr Beldjoud blamed a spate of fires in Algeria's Kabyle region on arson, claiming "only criminal hands" could explain "the simultaneous outbreak of about 50 fires across several localities". |
| Wednesday's toll brings the total number of Algerians killed in wildfires this summer up to 30. | Wednesday's toll brings the total number of Algerians killed in wildfires this summer up to 30. |
| The latest blazes come during a summer which has seen a number of countries in the Mediterranean region ravaged by wildfires - particularly in Europe, with France, Greece, Portugal, Spain and Italy all affected. | The latest blazes come during a summer which has seen a number of countries in the Mediterranean region ravaged by wildfires - particularly in Europe, with France, Greece, Portugal, Spain and Italy all affected. |
| Just last week, more than 1,000 fire officials battled what they described as a "monster" wildfire near Bordeaux. | Just last week, more than 1,000 fire officials battled what they described as a "monster" wildfire near Bordeaux. |