l black (Algeria): Algerian firefighters were battling a string of fires on Thursday, caused by drought and extreme heat that killed at least 38 people and caused destruction in their wake.
Deadly wildfires have become an annual scourge in the North African country, where climate change is turning large areas into tinderboxes.
According to multiple sources, including local journalists and the fire service, at least 38 people have been killed, mostly in the El Tarf region near Algeria’s eastern border with Tunisia, which was ripening in 48 °C (118 °F) heat.
According to various Algerian media, at least 200 more people have suffered burns or respiratory problems from the smoke.
A journalist in El Tarf described “scenes of devastation” on the road to El Qala in the far northeast of the country.
“A whirlwind of fire swept away everything in seconds,” he told AFP by telephone. “Most of the people who died were cornered while visiting a wildlife park.”
He said emergency services were still battling the fire around Lake Tonga.
An AFP team in Al Qala reported a strong smell of smoke and said officials fear strong winds could spark new fires.
He also saw major damage at the wildlife park and a witness, who asked not to be named, said that 12 people in his bus were burnt as they tried to escape.
Many roads in the area were closed.
State television reported on Thursday morning that the Prime Minister ayman benbadrahman was visiting the area.
Firefighters were also battling a massive fire in the hilly area. souk ahrasiA journalist in the area told AFP.
He described scenes of panic in a city of five million people, where about 100 women and 17 newborn babies had to be evacuated from a hospital near the forest.
Algerian television showed people running from their burning homes, women with children in their arms. Local media said 350 people had fled their homes.
lack of aircraft
According to the fire service, about 39 flames were rising in different parts of northern Algeria, and there were fears that the hot winds could create new sparks that officials are not fully prepared to fight.
The scenes sparked fears of fires raging again last year, which killed at least 90 people in the north of the country and destroyed 100,000 hectares of forest and farmland.
Last year’s devastation drew sharp criticism from officials over the lack of firefighting aircraft.
Authorities have leased a Russian Beriev Be 200 water bomber, but it has broken down and is not expected to be operational again until Saturday, the interior minister said. Kamel Beldjoud Told.
The Civil Defense Service and the Army have several firefighting helicopters.
Experts have called for a major effort to increase the firefighting capacity of Africa’s largest country, which has more than four million hectares of forest.
One expert, who asked not to be named, told AFP that in the 1980s the country had 22 Grumman aircraft to fight wildfires, but they were “sold cheaply, with no alternative solutions proposed.” it was done”.
According to the specialist website, Algeria had agreed to buy seven firefighting aircraft from Spanish firm Plysa, but the contract was canceled after a diplomatic dispute over Western Sahara in late June. Mena Raksha,
Since the beginning of August, there have been 106 fires in Algeria, destroying 800 hectares of forest and 1,800 hectares of forest, according to Beljoud, who said some were caused by arson.
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