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After days of intense flames that claimed 38 lives among the 150 fires that started in the north and east of the territory, the situation appears to be under control as efforts to put out the flames continue. In addition, an investigation into the origin of the conflagrations began and the authorities have arrested four possible arsonists.
The complex crisis due to the flames in Algeria took on a slightly more favorable perspective compared to the forest fire that has broken out in recent days. Farouk Achour, colonel of the fire brigade, told the AFP agency that “all the fires have been completely controlled.”
The Civil Defense official thus provided a bit of calm after 38 people died as a result of the 150 outbreaks that also destroyed hundreds of hectares of forests in the North African country.
This situation occurs a year after a similar problem was suffered, with the addition that the rate of replanting of trees has been very low. The difficulties posed by climate change make fires prone, which are increasingly difficult to counteract.
Throughout Wednesday and Thursday, authorities deployed more than 1,700 firefighters to battle the flames. However, they received criticism for lack or poor preparation for this situation.
The flimsy resistance was made up of few available firefighting planes despite record losses in the 2021 fires, fueled by the exponential gains that Algeria experienced from gas exports.
More anti-fire planes would not arrive until December
On Thursday, Algerian Prime Minister Aimene Benabderrahmane defended the government’s response, saying the country had ordered four new firefighting planes but would not have them until December.
There was an agreement between the African country and Spain to acquire seven air units from the firm Plysa, but the agreement fell through at the end of June in retaliation for the conflict with Western Sahara.
Among the 38 dead, 10 children and another dozen firefighters appeared, according to the local press and the firefighting teams.
The area with the highest figures was El Tarf, bordering to the east with the Tunisian border, a region that began the week with 48 degrees Celsius.
While in Souk Ahras, five members of the same family appeared who died in flames in a mountainous area.
The Justice Ministry is conducting an investigation after the interior minister hinted that some fires were voluntary. In fact, there are already four suspected arsonists arrested.
The incidents of the previous year left a tragic balance of at least 90 deaths and around 100,000 hectares consumed.
with AFP
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