Nnenna Ibeh

A wildfire outbreak recorded across 16 provinces in Algeria on Monday, July 24, has killed at least 34 people.

The outbreak also led to the evacuation of 1,500 people from their homes in the Fenaia, Bejaia, Zbarbar and Bouira areas of Algeria.

According to the Algerian Ministry of Defence, 10 soldiers died battling the fires in Bejaia.

BBC reports that about 8,000 firefighters worked effortlessly to control the fire outbreak, as authorities say 26 people were injured.

Some families lost their farmlands and crops to the wildfire, especially those living in the mountainous Kabylie region to the east of Algiers, where the fire spread to residential areas due to high winds.

With investigations launched to ascertain the cause of the fire, the Northern part of Algeria is experiencing a record heatwave with temperatures reaching 48C. Temperatures in several regions of North Africa are also recording up to 7C higher than the average temperature for the time of the year.

Also, the Algerian Meteorological Office warns that temperatures of more than 48C will likely continue until the end of the month in the Northern part of the country.

The chairman of the Arab Parliament Adel Ben Abderrahmane Al-Assoumi extended his heartfelt condolences and deep sympathy to Algeria leaders, government, parliament and people following the forest fires that caused deaths and injuries.

Al-Assoumi sent his condolences through a statement from the Arab Parliament on Monday, July 24.