Algeria extinguishes 26 fires in past 24 hours

ALGIERS, Algeria

Algeria extinguished 26 fires within 24 hours in central and eastern regions, the Civil Defense Agency said on Monday.

The agency said the blazes affected forests, brush, agricultural crops, and fruit trees in several provinces as Bejaia, Mila, Bordj Bou Arreridj, Skikda, Setif and Tizi Ouzou.

No injuries were reported.

Last week, joint Algerian-Tunisian firefighting teams put out a wildfire that broke out in a border area in the Souk Ahras province.

Algerian authorities launched weeks ago a wildfire prevention system that includes 13 water-bombing aircraft and 100 drones for monitoring and tracking operations.

Fires have killed and injured dozens in Algeria and caused significant material damage in recent years amid a prolonged drought and rising temperatures.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio