Algerian President orders investigation into causes of last week's forest fires

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has ordered an investigation into the forest fires that erupted simultaneously across several provinces last weekend.

According to Algeria Press Service (APS), President Tebboune ordered, during a cabinet meeting, an investigation to determine the causes behind the concurrent outbreak of the fires, which forced dozens of families to evacuate their homes.

The Algerian Civil Defense announced that the vast majority of the 55 fires recorded in recent days have been extinguished. It said that around 300 firefighters, supported by substantial equipment and two firefighting aircraft, were deployed to contain the blazes.

The fires spread toward several villages in the Tipaza region, located 70 km west of Algiers, prompting authorities to shelter residents in schools and youth centers. Strong winds exceeding 60 km per hour fueled the rapid advance of the fires, which burned large areas of forests and woodland across 10 northern provinces.