Wildfires kill 12 and leave 54 injured in Jijel, Béjaïa and Tizi Ouzou, Algeria
Wildfires across northern Algeria killed 12 people and left 54 with burn injuries, including six in critical condition, on August 26, 2026. Algeria’s General Directorate of Civil Protection (DGPC) reported 67 vegetation and agricultural fires still being fought across 16 wilayas at 20:00 LT (19:00 UTC) on August 27, while the Interior Ministry said later that night that ground and aerial firefighting operations were continuing.
Firefighters suppressing deadly wildfires in Algeria on August 27, 2026. Credit: APS
Interior Minister Saïd Sayoud said five of the deaths occurred in Jijel, four in Béjaïa and three in Tizi Ouzou. Another 54 people suffered burn injuries, including six who were in critical condition and receiving intensive care.
Sayoud said Civil Protection recorded 154 fire outbreaks nationwide on August 26. These included 36 in Béjaïa, where 18 had been brought under control by the time of his statement.
At 20:00 LT (19:00 UTC) on August 27, the DGPC reported 67 vegetation and agricultural fires still being fought across 16 wilayas.
These included 17 in Jijel, 10 each in El Tarf and Skikda, five each in Tizi Ouzou and Guelma, four each in Annaba and Béjaïa, two each in Souk Ahras, Sétif and M’Sila, and one each in Boumerdès, Mila, Constantine, Tébessa, Médéa and Bouira.
At 07:00 LT (06:00 UTC) on August 26, the DGPC reported that a fire at Sidi Mohamed in the municipality of Ouled Yahia Khedrouche, Jijel, remained active amid strong winds, with houses nearby. Several families were evacuated as a precaution while suppression operations continued with additional personnel and equipment.
At 13:00 LT (12:00 UTC) on August 27, the DGPC reported 43 fires still being fought. Operations in Jijel included fires in Chekfa, Texenna, Ziama Mansouriah, Sidi Maarouf and Ouled Yahia Khedrouche.
The agency’s 20:00 LT (19:00 UTC) bulletin later reported 67 continuing fires. The figures are separate operational snapshots rather than a final cumulative event total.
In a statement published at 22:55 LT (21:55 UTC) on August 27, the Interior Ministry said firefighting operations were continuing across several affected wilayas. Human and material resources, including ground and aerial assets, were being deployed according to the characteristics and severity of each fire.
Sayoud announced on August 27 that detailed investigations had been opened to determine the causes of the fires.
References:
1 In-depth investigations have been launched to determine the causes of the fires recorded in several provinces of the country – APS – August 27, 2026
2 Operations to contain the fires affecting several provinces across the country are continuing on the ground – APS – August 27, 2026
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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