In Pictures

Deadly wildfires raging across Algeria

Wildfires, some spread by strong winds, moved across forests and agricultural areas in 16 regions causing 97 blazes.

BOUIRA, ALGERIA - JULY 24: A view of the forest fires that swept through several states including Bouira — A view of the forest fires that swept through several states including Bouira. [Fazil Abd Erahim/Anadolu]

By News Agencies

More than 30 people have been killed in wildfires that are raging across Algeria.

Those killed include 10 soldiers who were trying to get the flames under control in the face of high winds and scorching summer temperatures, government ministries said on Monday.

At least 1,500 people were evacuated.

Wildfires, some spread by strong winds, moved across forests and agricultural areas in 16 regions causing 97 blazes in the North African country.

The largest and deadliest fires ravaged parts of Bejaia and Jijel — in the Kabyle region east of Algiers — and Bouira, about 100km (60 miles) southeast of the capital Algiers, the interior ministry said.

Operations to tamp down the fires included some 7,500 firefighters and 350 trucks on the ground as well as air support.

Algeria is no stranger to summer wildfires.

At least 37 people were killed last August after wildfires blazed near its northern border with Tunisia.

A year earlier, authorities said dozens were killed in blazes — including soldiers called in to help fight the fires in the mountainous Kabyle region that is dotted with villages.

Strong winds and successive heat waves have fuelled vicious fires in Greece and elsewhere around the Mediterranean this summer.

Algeria — Some 8,000 firefighters were battling to bring the flames under control, authorities said. [Fazil Abd Erahim/Anadolu]

A view of damage after devastating forest fires swept through several states including Bouira, Algeria — The authorities have launched a judicial investigation into the causes of the fires. [Fazil Abd Erahim/Anadolu]

Health teams help people — The wildfires have killed more than 30 people, including 10 soldiers trying to get the flames under control. [Fazil Abd Erahim/Anadolu]

A view of damage after devastating forest — The fires moved across forests and agricultural areas in 16 regions causing 97 blazes in the North African country. [Fazil Abd Erahim/Anadolu]

Forest fires kill 15 in Algeria — Operations to extinguish the fires included some 7,500 firefighters and 350 trucks on the ground as well as air support. [Fazil Abd Erahim/Anadolu]

A man reacts damage after devastating forest — Fires regularly rage through forests and fields in Algeria in summer, and this year have been exacerbated by a heatwave that has seen several Mediterranean countries break temperature records. [Fazil Abd Erahim/Anadolu]