At least 73 people have been killed in wildfires that swept through Algeria’s Jijel province this week, according to a preliminary toll released by local authorities, as rescue teams continued searching for missing people and assessing extensive damage.
The fires struck the northeastern province on Wednesday and Thursday, devastating several communities and destroying large areas of forest and farmland.
A mass funeral was held Friday after prayers for 39 victims in the town of El-Djemaa Beni Habibi, where Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb attended alongside hundreds of residents.
Local authorities in Beni Habibi reported a preliminary toll of 73 deaths, although the final number could rise as search operations continue.
A witness told local media that 21 members of a single family were among those killed in the heights of Beni Habibi. The witness said entire families were wiped out and that some victims’ bodies were recovered in severely burned condition.
The fires also affected the areas of Tisbilane, Bordj Tahar, Ouled Asker, Bouraoui Belhadef, Sidi Maarouf, El Milia, Chahna, Texenna and Chekfa.
Witnesses described rapidly spreading flames that left residents with little time to evacuate. Some people reportedly died while attempting to leave their homes or rescue livestock and agricultural property.
Doctor Haroun Boujiet, who shared an account of the disaster on social media, said the fires caught residents off guard and spread within minutes, leaving many with little opportunity to escape.
Authorities have yet to issue a final death toll as fires remain active in some areas and search teams continue looking for missing people.
The fires have also caused extensive property damage and destroyed an estimated 80% of the forest cover in parts of the province, according to local reports. Jijel is known for its heavily forested mountains and coastline and attracts tens of thousands of tourists each summer.
The devastation has transformed parts of the province, with smoke and ash covering areas near its beaches as residents mourn relatives, friends and neighbors killed in the fires.
Authorities are expected to provide further details on the number of victims and the extent of the damage as rescue and assessment operations continue.
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