ALGIERS (Reuters) – Algeria was battling to contain wildfires along the Mediterranean coast on Tuesday, in an explosion that killed 34 people, authorities said, adding that they had managed to bring about four-fifths of the blaze under control.
Fanned by strong winds, the fires have spread into Tunisia, prompting the closure of two border crossings.
Unrelenting heat has wreaked havoc across the planet this month, with record-breaking temperatures in China, the United States, southern Europe and North Africa, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
Greece has been battling wildfires for the past week, prompting the evacuation of thousands of tourists from its popular resorts.
Fires broke out in several provinces of Algeria on Monday, tearing up forests, olive groves and low scrubland. More than 8,000 firefighters have been dispatched to control the flames.
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Algeria’s civil protection services said 15 fires were raging in eight regions on Tuesday in Skikda, Jijel, Bouira, Bejaia, Tebessa, Medea, Setif, and El Tarf.
Ten of the thirty-four casualties reported on Monday were soldiers. Authorities say they have evacuated about 1,500 people from their homes.
Temperatures of 49 degrees Celsius (120 Fahrenheit) were recorded in some Tunisian cities this week.
Civil protection units, supported by foresters and the air force were working to put out fires in several areas of Tabarka in the northwest, on the Algerian border.
Moez Tria, a spokesman for Tunisia’s civil defense, said priority was given to protecting residential areas in the area and preventing the fire from reaching the airport in the area.
Fires also broke out in other parts of the country including Bizerte, Beja and Siliana.
(Reporting by Tarek Amara; Writing by Michele Kambas; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
Copyright 2023 Thomson Reuters.
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