Fanned by a heat wave, about thirty fires started Monday evening in northern Algeria, especially in Kabylia, killing five people according to firefighters and local forestry authorities.
In detail, civil protection teams are trying to put out 31 fires in 14 prefectures in the north of the country.
Ten are underway in Tizi Ouzou, one of the most populous towns in Kabylia.
Four others erupted in Jijel, in the east of the country.
But the cities of Bouira, Sétif, Khenchela, Guelma, Bejaïa, Bordj Bou Arreridj, Boumerdès, Tiaret, Medea, Tébessa, Blida and Skikda are also affected by fires, said the general directorate of civil protection.
Reinforcements were deployed in many prefectures and firefighting helicopters were mobilized.
The #Kabylie is burning, our hearts are melting!
😢 pic.twitter.com/0m7B33Eto5
- YOUVA TLIOUANT (@TliouantY) August 9, 2021
These fires caused the death of five people, including two in Aït-Yenni, one in Yakourène, the region's forest lung, and another near Azazga, not far from Tizi Ouzou, said Youcef Ould Mohamed, the local curator. of forests, quoted by the Algerian news agency APS.
Water scarcity in the country
The fires made a fifth victim in Tizi Ouzou, he said later on the Ennahar television channel.
The fires spread due to a strong wind which complicates the task of rescuers.
These fires occur as Algeria is experiencing a scorching summer marked by water scarcity in the country.
Weather services predict temperatures of up to 46 degrees on Tuesday.
Forgotten hills, burnt hills.
The #Kabylie still surrounded by flames.
5 dead including two women and a heavy radio silence from Gvt.
The night was terrible.
Thousands have fled their homes without knowing where to go.
They roar with rage.
pic.twitter.com/zhEVL4X514
- Tahar Hani (@taharhani) August 10, 2021
During a Council of Ministers, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune ordered the drafting of a bill severely punishing those responsible for arson in forests, with sentences of up to 30 years in prison, or even life imprisonment if l fire caused the death of individuals.
More than 40,000 hectares went up in smoke last year
In early July, three people suspected of being involved in fires that devastated 1,500 hectares of forests in the Aurès massif (north-eastern Algeria) were arrested.
As a reminder, Algeria has only 4.1 million hectares of forests, with a meager reforestation rate of 1.76%.
To read also Heat waves, floods, cyclones ... you will have to get used to extreme weather
Every year, the country is affected by forest fires. In 2020, nearly 44,000 hectares of coppice went up in smoke. The authorities had announced that they had arrested several perpetrators of arson in the aftermath.