The interior Ministry of Algeria has reported that the death toll resulting from the raging wildfires had on Monday increased to 34 people, including 10 soldiers, as a heatwave spreads across North Africa and Southern Europe.
According to the interior ministry, firefighting efforts are still being made in the Boumerdes, Bouira, Tizi Ouzou, Jijel, Bejaia, and Skikda districts with 8,000 firemen attempting to put out the flames. So far, some 1,500 individuals have been evacuated.
The authorities have started a judicial investigation into the causes of the fires.
North Africa is experiencing a severe heat wave, with several cities in neighbouring Tunisia recording temperatures of 49 Celsius (120 Fahrenheit).
Wildfires raged across the border town of Melloula in Tunisia. Witnesses said that hundreds of families were forced to escape because of flames that started in hilly areas and reached some of their homes in the town.
According to a civil protection officer, hundreds of the town’s residents were evacuated by land and water on coast guard and fishing boats.
Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi
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