“Apocalyptic scenes”: How the inhabitants of Algerian provinces are living under the weight of wildfires

Escalation of fires and threat to residential areas

The nightmare of wildfires has returned to the Algerian landscape, with a sudden spike in temperatures expanding the flames to the outskirts of residential areas. Field reports indicate that the fires are no longer confined to forests, but now threaten lives, property, and livestock, even breaching vital infrastructure, including hospitals in the province of Jijel.

Lack of resources and questions over the absence of aerial support

Civil defense teams are struggling to contain over 147 fire outbreaks, with a special focus on the Taksena forest. In conditions described as “extremely difficult,” firefighters are forced to rely on primitive methods, sparking anger among observers who condemned the lack of aerial support. While official justifications attribute the situation to weather conditions, observers believe the scene reflects the decay of the technical intervention system.

Media blackout and efforts to control the official narrative

In a notable development, officials have been accused of imposing a strict media blackout, with directives issued to local newspapers and websites to avoid covering the tragedies unfolding in the Kabylie region. Authorities have limited their actions to using ministerial visits for propaganda purposes, in an attempt to cover up the true scale of the disaster now making headlines in international media, which activists see as a move to prevent social unrest.

Demands to declare “disaster zones” and the death toll

Politically, the Workers’ Party has sounded the alarm, demanding that the affected regions be declared “disaster zones” to lift administrative obstacles and facilitate compensation efforts. The party expressed skepticism about the simultaneous nature of the fire outbreaks across distant provinces such as Béjaïa, Constantine, and Tizi Ouzou. While official figures insist on 12 deaths, local reports and sources close to the affected communities suggest the actual toll has exceeded 150, with massive material losses still being tallied.