12 killed, 54 injured as wildfire ravage northeastern Algeria — Pajhwok

KABUL (Pajhwok): At least 12 people have been killed and 54 others injured as wildfires swept through parts of northeastern Algeria, forcing authorities to evacuate dozens of families from the worst-affected areas, an official said. Interior Minister Said Sayoud said on Wednesday that five people were killed in Jijel province, four in Bejaia and three in Tizi Ouzou, Al Jazeera reported. Sayoud made the remarks during a visit to a hospital in Souk El Thenine, Bejaia, where he assessed treatment for people suffering from burns and smoke inhalation. According to Algeria’s official Algeria Press Service, 54 people were treated for burn injuries at the hospital, including six who were in critical condition. Sayoud said Civil Protection teams had recorded 154 fire outbreaks across the country on Wednesday, including 36 in Bejaia province. Eighteen of those fires had been brought under control. The wildfires erupted as a severe heatwave swept across Algeria and neighbouring Tunisia. Sayoud said firefighting teams had contained blazes in the provinces of Skikda, El Tarf, Bouira, Tizi Ouzou and Tebessa. Efforts were continuing in Bejaia, where 18 hotspots remained active, and in Jijel, where fires were reported in 12 municipalities. He added that dozens of families had been evacuated from areas threatened by the fires. Images broadcast by regional news website Jijel News showed residents taking refuge…