Algeria Wildfires Kill at Least 12 in Northern Region

Northern Africa has been hit by an intense summer heatwave, with temperatures soaring above 45 °C in several countries. The extreme heat has sparked hundreds of wildfires across the region, from Morocco’s Atlas Mountains to Algeria’s Sahara fringes, according to reports from national fire services and satellite monitoring agencies.

In Morocco, the Ministry of the Interior recorded 312 active fires as of mid‑August, while Algeria’s National Forest Agency logged 278 incidents, many of them in the high‑altitude cedar forests of the Kabylie region. The fires have scorched over 12,000 hectares of vegetation, displaced wildlife, and forced the evacuation of thousands of residents. Emergency crews have been deployed, and international aid has been requested to bolster firefighting resources and to address the risk of air‑quality degradation caused by the smoke.

Authorities are monitoring the situation closely as the heatwave is projected to continue into September. Measures include the establishment of firebreaks, the deployment of additional firefighting aircraft, and public advisories to reduce open‑fire activities. The long‑term impact on the region’s fragile ecosystems and local economies remains a concern for environmental agencies and policymakers.