Fires in Algeria generate a balance of at least 38 dead and a bleak picture

First modification: 08/18/2022 – 16:16

Algeria is going through difficult hours after the high temperatures that were recorded on Wednesday, August 17, opened a series of fires in the east of the territory, a situation that has already caused the death of at least 38 people, 24 in a single day, and 200 wounded.

So far this month, 161 outbreaks have broken out and have already consumed more than 3,200 hectares, according to data provided by the Ministry of the Interior.

This Thursday, the firefighters who were extinguishing the fire in northern Algeria described the context as “scenes of desolation”.

The most delicate area is in the province of El Tarf, bordering the border with Tunisia, where 24 civilians perished on Wednesday. Algerian Prime Minister Aimen Benabderrahmane is expected to pay a visit on Thursday.

For its part, in Souk Ahras, 400 houses were burned, dozens of families were displaced and another 45 ended up injured, said Civil Protection.

While the National Gendarmerie reported the tragic death of eight passengers traveling on a bus when it was surrounded by flames on the mountainous road that connects El Kala and Annaba.

To repel the fires, the Army High Command mobilized firefighting teams, 1,700 Civil Protection agents, 280 tanker trucks and helicopters.

In addition, the gendarmes closed several national highways.

Algiers rented a Russian Beriev BE-200 seaplane, but after being used several times it suffered a breakdown and will be out of circulation until next Saturday, said the head of the Interior portfolio, Kamel Beldjoud.

Announce aid and financial compensation to those affected

The official Twitter account of the Presidency issued a message stating that Abdelmadjid Tebboune “ratifies the position of the State and its full mobilization to turn off the lights and care for the wounded.”

“The President of the Republic extends his most sincere condolences to the families of the victims, wishing a speedy recovery to the injured,” he adds.

On Wednesday, the head of state warned that the families of the deceased or those who lost their belongings “will obtain compensation”, although he did not give further details.

Problems with fire are not new in Algeria. Last year they went through the deadliest in their modern history, after 104 inhabitants died -33 were soldiers who were part of operations- and around 100,000 hectares were devastated.

From that moment, the authorities promoted a legislative initiative that sentences the authors of voluntary fires with up to 30 years in prison or life in prison in the event of fatalities.

With EFE, AFP and AP