Forest fires in Algeria leave at least 12 dead; president declares national mourning

Cover image: laloking97 [2] — CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Forest fires in northeast Algeria have killed at least 12 people and left dozens injured, according to authorities. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune declared three days of national mourning, with flags at half-mast and the cancellation of cultural and sporting events.

Fires in Jijel: images released and affected localities

Flames spread through villages in Jijel province, about 350 km east of Algiers, in incidents recorded between August 26 and 27. Images filmed by an Instagram user in Agbala on August 26 showed a fire surrounding a house; videos published on August 27 by the Algerian Civil Protection Service showed firefighters battling blazes that swept mountain slopes.

In Bordj Tahar, identified as one of the most affected areas, residents returned to damaged homes and agricultural lands as teams began cleanup operations. Other localities cited by authorities and in footage include Acherar, Anchid, El Ouadia and Taghrast.

Official reports also recorded losses of livestock in the affected areas: around 400 animals are said to have died, according to authorities’ compiled information.

Response teams began restoring electricity and clearing affected areas as emergency operations continued to enable residents to safely return to their properties.

Victims, injuries and scale of the outbreaks

Interior Minister Saïd Sayoud said five people died in Jijel, four in Béjaïa, and three in Tizi Ouzou, bringing the total to at least 12 deaths confirmed in the authorities’ balance sheet.

Health authorities registered 54 people hospitalized with burns, six of whom were in a severe condition at the time of the report.

According to the Civil Protection Service, 193 fire incidents were recorded in the 24 hours preceding the update, of which 46 were still active when the briefing was released.

Government coordination and immediate response measures

Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb visited Jijel on August 27 to assess damages and coordinate local response actions, according to official statements cited in the coverage.

On the ground, teams are focusing on restoring essential services, such as electricity, in areas where residents are returning, as well as cleaning properties and roads affected by the blazes.

Health authorities continue to treat the injured who are hospitalized; the official report cited the number of hospitalizations and cases in serious condition, without detailing individual prognoses at this time.

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune declared three days of national mourning: flags at half-mast and the cancellation of cultural and sporting events were announced as part of the measure.

What is confirmed and the information gaps

Confirmed by authorities: fires that affected northeastern Algeria killed at least 12 people, left dozens injured, and damaged homes, farmland, and livestock in multiple localities across Jijel, Béjaïa and Tizi Ouzou provinces. The Civil Protection Service compiled 193 incidents in 24 hours, with 46 outbreaks still active at the time of the balance.

It is not yet confirmed, in the information available so far, what was the precise cause of the fires, the final number of destroyed properties, nor the full extent of evacuations beyond reports of residents returning to certain areas. The coverage also mentions global warming and climate change as context, without explicitly attributing the causes of the outbreaks to those factors.

Upcoming updates to follow the official reports: the evolution of the fight against the still-active outbreaks, new tallies of victims and hospitalized, and official assessments of damages and measures of support to affected communities.

Sources consulted: - Euronews - World News — http://www.euronews.com/video/2026/08/28/algerias-north-east-scorched-by-deadly-wildfires-national-mourning-declared