Tunisia has witnessed the outbreak of nearly 900 fires within 72 hours, amid a severe heatwave hitting the country, according to civil protection officials, who indicated that most of the fires have been brought under control, while firefighting teams are still battling two large fires.

Tunisia is experiencing daily scheduled power cuts

Tunisian authorities explained that the fires that broke out between July 20 and 22 were not limited to forests, but extended to wooded areas, agricultural crops, and homes, causing extensive material losses in several regions.

The fires coincided with an unprecedented rise in temperatures, ranging between 40 and 49 degrees Celsius, exceeding seasonal averages by up to 14 degrees, according to data from the National Institute of Meteorology.

Tunisia is also experiencing daily scheduled power cuts to relieve pressure on the national grid, while officials attributed the worsening of the fires to the abundance of dry vegetation resulting from the heavy rains experienced last winter.

Firefighters continue their efforts to control the remaining two fires, as official estimates indicate that about 4,400 hectares of forest land have burned since the start of May. Authorities attributed the causes of the fires to negligence or criminal acts, in addition to the impact of severe heat waves that contribute to the rapid spread of flames.