195 fires recorded and evacuation of residents and patients from hospitals in eastern Algeria - Sarmad

(KUNA) – The Algerian Civil Protection announced on Wednesday that 195 fires had been recorded over a 24-hour period, confirming the evacuation of residents and patients from the Seraidi Hospital in the Wilaya of Annaba, in the east of the country, as flames reached the city center.

In a statement, the Civil Protection reported that its personnel managed to extinguish 124 fires during the past 24 hours, while firefighting operations continued for 53 fires across the wilayas of Annaba, Souk Ahras, Skikda, Guelma, Bouira, Mila, El Tarf, Jijel, Constantine, and Bejaia in the eastern region.

The statement added that forest, bush, and agricultural crop fires were also recorded in the western wilayas of Mascara, Tlemcen, and Saïda, as well as in Médéa, south of the capital, and in the southern wilaya of Timimoun.

It confirmed that the Civil Protection had initiated precautionary operations to evacuate residents in threatened areas, alongside transferring patients from the Seraidi Hospital in Annaba, which was affected by forest fires, to safe locations “according to a proactive plan aimed at ensuring people’s safety and providing them with necessary care.”

It noted that firefighting efforts continued without interruption through intensive interventions by land firefighting teams, supported by aerial assets, with operations reinforced by all available operational capabilities “to contain the flames, limit their spread, and protect lives, property, and forest resources.”

It is worth noting that the Civil Protection revealed on Monday, the day before yesterday, that 1,460 fires had been recorded since the beginning of July, due to an exceptional heat wave gripping Algeria, which has caused significant losses to forests and bushlands.