Algeria’s President, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, has declared three days of national mourning amid the rising death toll from raging wildfires in the north of the country.
The rash of more than 50 fires, which broke out on August 11, 2021 has claimed four more lives, bringing the total to 69, including 28 soldiers deployed to help the emergency services. Meanwhile, at least another 14 soldiers were injured to varying degrees.
As of today, Thursday, August 12, more than 100 fires have been reported across 17 Algerian provinces. The most intense fires are raging in the forested hills of the Kabylie region, east of the capital Algiers.
Meanwhile, Algerian officials are blaming arsonists for setting many of the fires. The government has since contacted a number of regional countries to seek help from planes equipped to combat the blazes.
However, meteorologists expect the heat wave across North Africa to continue until the end of the week, with temperatures in Algeria reaching 46C. In neighbouring Tunisia, the capital Tunis hit an all-time record of 49C. The Tunisian emergency services also reported 15 fires across the north and northwest, but no casualties.
Meanwhile, an International Federation of Red Cross situation report says wildfires have been reported in border regions between Tunisia and Algeria.
Fires have caused devastation in several Mediterranean countries in recent days, including Greece, Turkey and Cyprus. They have also been ragings in the western United States.
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has since sent his condolences to the families of soldiers killed as they worked to rescue people in the areas of Bejaiea and Tizi Ouzou, the epicentre of the blazes.
“It is with great sadness that I have learned of the martyrdom of 25 soldiers after they were successful in rescuing around 100 citizens from the flames in the mountains of Bejaiea and Tizi Ouzou.”
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune
Furthermore, the Interior Minister Kamel Beldjoud, also echoed the sentiments of many witnesses that some of the fires were started deliberately.
“50 fires starting at the same time is impossible. These fires are of criminal origin.”
Kamel Beldjoud
However, three suspected arsonists in the northern district of Medea have been arrested and another in Annaba, in relation to other fires.
Arson has been blamed for several major fires in recent years in Algeria. Last month, President Tebboune ordered a bill to stiffen punishments for starting a forest fire, with sentences of up to 30 years in prison and possible life imprisonment, if the fire results in death.
Fires have caused devastation in several Mediterranean countries in recent days, including Greece, Turkey and Cyprus. They have also been raging in the western United States.
Coincidentally, just Monday, August 09, the United Nations (UN) released a major report indicating that the threat from global warming is more acute than previously thought. It found human activity was changing the climate in new and sometimes irreversible ways.
Climate change amplifies droughts, creating ideal conditions for wildfires to spread out of control and inflict unprecedented material and environmental damage.
However, this unfortunate event will only exacerbate the plights of several Algerians as the country is already struggling with severe water shortages. READ ALSO: Coca-Cola Nigeria to benefit from increased e-commerce adoption
