More than 20 military killed in forest fires in Algeria

In Algeria, North Africa, wildfires have killed over 40 people. Most of them are military personnel who took part in the extinguishing of the fire and the rescue operation, transfers Reuters.

Algerian Prime Minister Ayman bin Abdurrahman announced the deaths of 25 soldiers. “It is with great sadness and sadness that I received the news of the martyrdom of 25 members of the People’s National Army, who successfully rescued more than a hundred citizens from the burning flames,” Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebun tweeted. Some of the soldiers were killed when the fire cut off their escape route.

According to the Ministry of Defense, 11 more soldiers were burned while extinguishing fires, four of them were seriously injured.

Meanwhile, Algerian journalist Walid Medawar informs on Twitter that the number of casualties reached 65 (28 military and 37 civilians). Another 12 soldiers are in critical condition.

According to the prime minister, the government is conducting “preliminary negotiations” with foreign partners to organize assistance to extinguish the fires.

Forest fires have engulfed most of the mountainous region of Kabilia. Interior Minister Kamel Beljud said that some arsonists were to blame for what was happening. The official limited himself to general considerations, without citing specific facts. “Only criminal hands can be the cause of the simultaneous occurrence of about 50 hotbeds of fire in several settlements,” the minister said. The head of government did not rule out the possibility of arson.

Fires were recorded in 14 districts of the country, 10 of which are in the Tizi Ouzou region of Kabylia. The locals used the branches in a desperate attempt to bring down the flames and stop the fire from spreading. Thick smoke made it difficult for firefighters to assess the situation and make decisions. Several houses were burned down, and their residents had to take refuge in hotels and hostels of educational institutions.

Algeria suffers from high temperatures, drought and water shortages, notes Interfax. Until August 15, forecasters predict an increase in air temperature up to 46 degrees. In addition to Algeria, a difficult situation with wildfires is also developing now in other states of the Mediterranean region – Turkey, Greece, Italy, Montenegro and North Macedonia. According to scientists, climate change entails the spread of abnormal heat, which contributes to the occurrence of forest fires. In this week’s “apocalyptic” UN climate report celebratedthat the processes have become irreversible.