More Than 60 Killed In Algerian Raging Wildfires

Firefighters, troops and civilian volunteers battled blazes in forests across northern Algeria on Wednesday as the country experienced rising death tolls of at least 65 people in the latest wildfires.

Soldiers deployed to back the overstretched emergency services tackle the rash of more than 50 fires that broke out on Tuesday accounted for 28 of those killed, state television reported.

The authorities say they suspect widespread arson after so many fires erupted in such a short space of time. They have announced several arrests but have yet to elaborate on the identity or suspected motives of those detained.

Fire official Youcef Ould Mohamed said high winds fueled the rapid spread of the fires in the tinder-dry conditions created by a heat wave across North Africa and the wider Mediterranean.

Emergency services spokesman Nassim Barnaoui also told reporters A total of 69 separate wildfires remained active Wednesday, spread across 17 provinces,.

Most of the fires and 16 of the deaths were recorded in Tizi Ouzou district, in the mainly Berber region of Kabylie, east of the capital Algiers.

There have been mounting calls for aid convoys to be sent to the worst-hit districts with food and medicine from the capital.

An appeal for volunteer doctors to assist the city’s overstretched medical services also appeared on Facebook.State media have reported four arrests for suspected arson.

Meteorologists expect the heat wave across North Africa to continue until the end of the week, with temperatures in Algeria reaching 46 degrees Celsius.