Wildfires in Algeria kill at least 34 people

Thousands of firefighters on Tuesday battled nearly 100 wildfires that began over the weekend in the North African country. Local officials said the fires have killed at least 34 people since Sunday, including 10 soldiers who died Monday night during an evacuation in the northern town of Béjaïa. Authorities on Monday evacuated about 1,500 people from towns in the northeastern corner of the country.

Are fires common in this region? Strong wind and high temperatures have contributed to major fires in Northern Africa and the Mediterranean this summer, although there is some precedent. Fires in Algeria killed at least 37 people in August last year, and at least 65 people died in fires in 2021. Emergency crews on Tuesday were still fighting flames in Greece. 

Dig deeper: Listen to Sarah Schweinsberg’s report on a small California town’s recovery from a devastating wildfire on The World and Everything in It podcast.