Fires in Algeria: arsonists arrested, more than 9,000 ha destroyed

Several arsonists have been arrested following the violent fires that have destroyed more than 9,000 hectares of forests in the past two months in Algeria, with an average of 20 incidents per day, according to the authorities. " Between June 1 and August 3, 1,283 fires covered a total area of ​​more than 9,165 hectares, " said the Directorate General of Forests (DGF) on Wednesday August 5, quoted by the APS agency. The DGF adds that during Eid al-Adha, the Muslim feast of sacrifice, July 31 and August 1, a total of 134 fires were recorded throughout the country.

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Since June 1, the General Directorate of Civil Protection (DGPC) has deployed four helicopters, 1,250 fire trucks, 570 ambulances and mobilized some 15,600 men to fight against forest fires.

3 suspects in pre-trial detention

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Sunday ordered the " immediate " opening of an investigation to " determine the causes of the fires which have devastated vast expanses of forests ". Algeria has more than four million hectares of forest. Interior Minister Kamel Beldjoud said Wednesday that the first inquiries had revealed " the involvement " of several people.

Of the 15 suspects summoned by the security services, three were remanded in custody, said Beldjoud. The fires left six people injured, in addition to extensive material and agricultural destruction. The Minister of the Interior has announced that people who have suffered damage will be compensated by the State after expertise.

Algeria suffers from forest fires every year which destroy up to 1% of its plant cover. In 2019, 21,048 hectares went up in smoke between June 1 and October 31 (2312 ha in 2018). According to the DGF, some 67,000 fires destroyed more than a million hectares of forests between 1985 and 2018.