24 July 2023 , 20:13
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Wildfires raging across Algeria have killed 25 people, including 10 soldiers trying to get the flames under control in the face of high winds and scorching summer temperatures.
At least 1,500 people were evacuated, the Interior Ministry said on Monday.
It comes after fires have ripped through parts of southern Europe due to an unprecedented heatwave where temperatures have hit the middle to high 40Cs.
The Interior Ministry announced 15 deaths and 24 injuries. In addition, the Defense Ministry later announced 10 soldiers were killed and 25 injured as they fought fires in the resort area of Beni Ksila east of the capital Algiers.
It wasn't immediately clear over what period of time the casualties happened but the fires have been burning for several days.
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Wildfires have led to the deaths of 25 people (AFP via Getty Images)Wildfires, some spread by strong winds, moved across forests and agricultural areas in 16 regions causing 97 blazes in the north African country.
The largest and deadliest fires ravaged parts of Bejaia and Jijel - in the Kabyle region east of Algiers - and Bouira, about 60 miles southeast of Algiers, the Interior Ministry said.
Operations to tamp down the fires included some 7,500 firefighters and 350 trucks on the ground as well as air support.
Residents attempting to tackle the flames in the town of Tabarka (AFP via Getty Images)Algeria is no stranger to summer wildfires.. At least 37 people were killed last August after wildfires blazed near Algeria's northern border with Tunisia.
A year earlier, authorities said dozens were killed in blazes - including soldiers called in to help fight the fires in the mountainous Kabyle region that is dotted with villages.
Strong winds and successive heat waves have fueled vicious fires in Greece and elsewhere around the Mediterranean this summer.
Thousands of people have been evacuated in Algeria (AFP via Getty Images)Fires caused devastation on the Spanish island of Tenerife and now large areas of the island of Rhodes in Greece is ablaze leading to thousands of evacuations.
As Brits rush to escape the holiday island of Rhodes, emergency services fear more blazes could hit other Greek islands - including Crete.
Corfu was the second island to be hit by the horrific wildfires at the weekend, and the fire service are preparing for the fires to spread.
Firefighters trying to extinguish a fire near the village of Zberber (STR/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)The Corfu blaze prompted warnings to Brits staying at certain hotels not to travel. Locals in some areas battled the blaze themselves on Corfu as sea evacuations were carried out.
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Now Crete has been issued with an extreme risk warning for fires as temperatures are forecast to surge to 41C tomorrow. The Greek government has put the fire alert in place from Tuesday, which also covers Attica, Central Greece, Peloponnese region and the South Aegean region.