Algeria extinguishes all wildfires after days of widespread blazes, authorities say

ALGIERS, Algeria / ISTANBUL

Algerian firefighters have extinguished all forest fires across the country, including a major blaze in Tipaza province, west of the capital Algiers, authorities said Saturday.

The Civil Protection Agency said that 55 fires were put out in 14 provinces in western, central, and eastern Algeria since Friday morning.

Five hotspots remain under monitoring due to the risk of reigniting, it added in a statement.

In Tipaza, the agency said fires were extinguished in the forests of Boukhlidja, Amarsha, Bouzoula, Shoula, and Douar al-Ikhwa Marsili, with patrols continuing in some areas.

All fires were also contained in the provinces of Chlef in the west; Tizi Ouzou, Medea, Ain Defla, Bouira, and Boumerdes in the center; and Bejaia, Jijel, Skikda, Mila, Setif, Souk Ahras, and Tebessa in the east, according to the statement.

Algeria’s meteorological service expects a noticeable drop in temperatures in the coming days, which has fueled the spread of fires. Rains are forecast on Monday, with snow expected later in the week.

Several Algerian provinces, especially Tipaza, had witnessed sudden, large-scale wildfires in recent days, driven by unusually hot and dry winds for this time of the year, prompting mass evacuations.

Authorities have not disclosed the cause of the fires, though northern regions have experienced an unusual heat wave in recent days.

Temperatures in the capital, Algiers, exceeded 31°C (87.8°F) on Thursday -- unusually high for a coastal Mediterranean city that typically sees heavy rain and even snow in the surrounding mountains at this time of the year.

Algeria has suffered a severe drought for more than six years, particularly in its central and western regions.

Repeated drought waves since 2022 have caused unprecedented fires, killing dozens of people, injuring hundreds, and destroying tens of thousands of hectares of forests and vegetation.