According to Algeria’s interior ministry, at least 15 people have died and many have been evacuated as a result of wildfires that have raged across the country.
On Monday, 97 flames erupted in 16 provinces, threatening forests, crops, and farmland.
Authorities claimed that 7,500 firemen were working to put out the fires.
In addition, 26 individuals were injured, and 1,500 people were evacuated from their houses in Fenaia, Bejaia, Zbarbar, and Bouira.
Fires in the hilly Kabylie region east of Algiers extended to residential areas in the seaside cities of Bejaia and Jijel, fanned by heavy winds.
Northern Algeria has recently experienced a record heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 48 degrees Celsius.
Temperatures in various North African regions are up to 7 degrees Celsius above usual for the time of year.
The Algerian Meteorological Office has warned that temperatures of more than 48 degrees Celsius are likely to persist in the country’s north until the end of the month.
Since the heatwave began, electricity consumption in Algeria is reported to have reached the highest level in the country’s history.
Meanwhile, southern Europe has been dealing with a challenging heatwave that has seen Greece ravaged by wildfires.
The UN weather agency, the World Meteorological Organization, has warned that the heatwave in Europe could continue into August and that the extreme temperatures sweeping the globe are the new normal in a world warmed by climate change.
The three hottest days ever recorded were in July, according to the EU climate and weather service, Copernicus.
The average world temperature hit 16.89C on Monday 3 July and topped 17C for the first time on 4 July, with an average global temperature of 17.04C.
Provisional figures suggest that was exceeded on 5 July when temperatures reached 17.05C.
The World Meteorological Organization says extreme weather patterns highlight the need for greater climate action.
Climate change increases the risk of the hot, dry weather that is likely to fuel wildfires. The world has already warmed by about 1.1C since the industrial era began and temperatures will keep rising unless governments around the world make steep cuts to emissions.
