Algeria, July 25 (BNA): The Algerian authorities said that they are struggling to contain the devastating forest fires along its Mediterranean coast, on Tuesday, in an inferno that killed at least 34 people, adding that they managed to control about four-fifths of the fire.
Reuters reported that the fires spread due to strong winds to neighboring Tunisia, which led to the closure of two border crossings.
An extreme heat wave has wreaked havoc across the planet this month, with record-breaking temperatures in China, the United States, southern Europe and northern Africa, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
Greece has been battling wildfires over the past week, which has led to the mass evacuation of thousands of tourists from its most popular holiday resort.
Fires broke out in several provinces of Algeria on Monday, burning forests, olive groves and low shrubs. More than 8,000 firefighters were deployed to bring the flames under control.
The Algerian civil protection services said that 15 fires broke out in eight regions on Tuesday in Skikda, Jijel, Bouira, Bejaia, Tebessa, Medea, Setif and Tarf.
Ten of the 34 victims reported on Monday were soldiers. The authorities said they had evacuated about 1,500 people from their homes.
Temperatures of 49 degrees Celsius (120 Fahrenheit) were recorded in some cities in Tunisia this week.
Civil protection units, supported by forest workers and the air force, are putting out fires in several areas of Tabarka in the northwest, on the border with Algeria.
Moez Tariya, a spokesman for the Tunisian Civil Protection, said the priority was given to protecting residential communities in the area and preventing the fire from reaching an airport in the area.
Fires also broke out in other regions of the country, including the regions of Bizerte, Beja and Siliana.
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