Algeria wildfires kill 12 people across multiple cities, official says

ALGIERS, Algeria — Algeria's Interior Minister Said Seyud said 12 people have died in wildfires burning across several cities in the country, according to a statement reported from the city of Béjaïa. Speaking to reporters, the minister said five deaths were recorded in Jijel in northeastern Algeria, three in Tizi Vezou and four in Béjaïa. Seyud said strong winds and adverse weather conditions had prevented firefighting aircraft from intervening effectively. He added that more than 70 percent of the blazes had been brought under control. Algeria's Civil Defense units said 118 of 182 wildfires recorded nationwide had been extinguished, with all available personnel and technical resources mobilized to continue the response. The agency did not provide an immediate timeline for containing the remaining fires. In July, wildfires in parts of Algeria killed six people, according to Interior Ministry figures cited at the time. Authorities have not announced additional evacuation orders or casualty updates beyond the figures reported by Seyud.