As wildfires blaze throughout Algeria, at least 25 people have perished, including 10 troops.
Since many days ago, there have been fires burning all throughout the nation, some of which have been fueled by strong winds and have expanded to woods and agricultural areas in 16 different regions.
In a well-known vacation spot close to the nation’s capital of Algiers, the 10 troops perished while attempting to put out fires. There were 25 additional wounded soldiers.
Algeria’s interior ministry announced 15 civilians have died and 24 have been injured so far – though it’s not yet clear when the deaths happened.
The firefighting effort is taking place at the same time as strong winds and heatwaves have triggered vicious wildfires in Greece.
Attempts to tamp down the fires included 7,500 firefighters and 350 fire engines on the ground, as well as air support.
At least 1,500 people have been evacuated, but the government didn’t provide any details about where they were moved from.
The largest and deadliest fires ravaged parts of Bejaia and Jijel – in the Kabyle region east of Algiers – and Bouira, about 60 miles south-east of Algiers.
Last August at least 37 people were killed when wildfires burned near Algeria’s border with Tunisia.
And in 2021 dozens were killed in fires – including soldiers who were called in to help tackle the wildfires in the country’s mountainous Kabyle region.