Death toll of Algeria’s wildfires rises to 31
ALGIERS, Algeria (AA) – The death toll of Algeria’s forest fires rose to 31, the Algerian Civil Protection authority said on Thursday.
In a statement, it said that four deaths were reported in the northeastern El Tarf province along the borders with Tunisia and one death was reported in another northeastern province, Guelma.
Local media, however, said there are dozens of people still missing.
Videos on social media showed large areas of forest burning, including national parks and natural reserves.
Civil protection officials, meanwhile, stated that teams were working to put out 39 fires across 14 provinces, most of them in the country’s northeast.
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune offered his condolences to the families of the victims in the provinces of Setif and El Tarf, according to an official statement.
The road linking the city of El Tarf and the Bouteldja region was closed.
The fires coincided with a record heat wave that hit northeastern Algeria, exceeding 45 C (113 F), as well as with hot and strong southern winds.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
