Algiers / Abbas Memouni / Anadolu Agency

- The Algerian Civil Protection General Directorate demanded all its personnel in 45 provinces to immediately report to their workplaces in preparation for facing fires.

- The Directorate said the latest tally on Thursday recorded 111 fires in forests, bushes, scrublands, agricultural crops, and palm groves, of which 65 were brought under control, while 46 fire hotspots continue in 18 provinces.

The Algerian Civil Protection General Directorate issued an "urgent" message on Thursday evening, calling on its personnel to immediately report to their workplaces, against the backdrop of the number of forest fires in several provinces rising to 111, amid a severe heatwave.

The Civil Protection said in a statement that it issued an "urgent" message calling on its personnel to immediately report to their workplaces, following a special bulletin from the National Office of Meteorology warning of temperatures rising to 48 degrees Celsius or more in some areas, at least until next Sunday.

The Directorate requested all personnel belonging to 45 provinces, in addition to the National Training and Intervention Unit, to immediately report to their workplaces, as part of raising readiness and strengthening intervention capabilities to confront fires.

In the latest tally, the Civil Protection announced the recording of 111 fires in forests, bushes, scrublands, agricultural crops, and palm groves as of 17:00 local time (16:00 GMT), with 65 of them brought under control, while 46 fire hotspots continue across 18 provinces.

Firefighting teams focused their interventions on a number of major fires in the provinces of Bejaia, Annaba, Skikda (northeast), Blida, Tizi Ouzou, Boumerdes, Ain Defla (north-central), and Tlemcen (northwest), with the support of firefighting planes and helicopters.

Several areas also witnessed precautionary evacuations of residents due to the flames approaching residential communities.

In Bejaia province, two villages and about 100 people were evacuated from the Imaarat area in the municipality of Barbacha, while 200 people were evacuated in Blida province.

In Skikda, about 10 families were evacuated from the Ghanoua area, and several families from Oued El Zegar, El Alia, and Oum El Toub areas, while 6 families were evacuated in Bouira province (north-central).

Boumerdes province also witnessed the evacuation of a number of families from the municipalities of Yesser and Naciria before returning them to their homes after the situation was brought under control, while 13 families comprising 70 people were evacuated in Guelma province (northeast) as a precautionary measure.

The Civil Protection indicated that a fire in Ain Defla province continues to threaten homes and property, while extinguishing operations continue in various affected provinces.

Algeria has been experiencing a heatwave for days, accompanied by the outbreak of dozens of fires, while civil protection teams, supported by aerial and ground resources, continue their efforts to limit the spread of flames and protect people and property.

Widespread fires that the country witnessed in past years caused the deaths and injuries of dozens of people, as well as damaging large areas of forests and vegetation cover.

The recurring fires prompted authorities to tighten penalties against those responsible for igniting them, reaching in some cases up to 30 years in prison.