Among them, 21 from a single family... Algeria's fires claim 73 victims in Jijel - Sarmad

The Algerian province of Jijel, in the east, is beginning to heal from devastating forest fires that swept through wide areas over the past two days, amid a preliminary death toll of 73 people in the town of Djemaa Beni Hbib, while search operations for the missing continue.

The town held a collective funeral for 39 of the fire victims on Friday, following Friday prayers, attended by Prime Minister Aymen Benabderrahmane and a large crowd of citizens.

The German news agency DPA quoted an eyewitness as saying that 21 members of a single family perished in the highlands of Beni Hbib, noting that charred bodies were recovered, while residents spoke of families who lost several members after being trapped by rapidly spreading flames.

The fires affected several areas in Jijel province, including Djemaa Beni Hbib, Tisbilane, Bordj El Kheir, Ouled Asker, Bouaoui Belhadef, Sidi Makhlouf, El Milia, El Chihna, Taksemta, and Ech Chouf.

According to local testimonies, some victims died while trying to leave their homes or save their livestock and agricultural crops, as video clips circulating on social media showed the extent of the destruction caused by the fires.

Algerian authorities have not yet announced a final casualty figure for Jijel, as the fires and search operations for the missing continue, while initial estimates point to extensive losses in property and vegetation.

In its latest update on the ground situation, the General Directorate of Civil Protection announced that 110 out of 174 fires that broke out between August 27 and 28 in vegetation, agricultural crops, palm oases, and hayfields have been extinguished.

It added that firefighting operations are still ongoing to control 64 fires, including 20 in Jijel, 14 in Skikda, 10 in El Tarf, 6 in Guelma, 5 in Annaba, and 4 in Bejaia, as well as fires in Bouira, Mila, Tebessa, and Constantine.