At least 38 dead in northern Algeria wildfires, including a mother and daughter

Algeria

At least 38 people have died in the forest fires raging in northern Algeria, leaving several more injured. Most victims died in El Tarf, near the Tunisian border, while a mother and daughter were killed in Setif, Kamel Beldjoud, the country's interior minister said. Reportedly, El Tarf is the worst-hit area in the country with 16 fires in progress.

Algerian media outlets have reported that nearly 200 more people have experienced burns or respiratory issues due to smoke from the fire.

Around 350 residents have been evacuated in various provinces. Northern Algeria witnesses wildfires every year, leaving several people dead. Last year, 90 people were killed. 

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Total deaths this summer now stand at 30. Firefighters and helicopters are still trying to contain several blazes threatening residents in provinces in the east of the country.

Wildfires have wreaked havoc across the world this summer, with Europe being specially hit. On Wednesday, a wall of flame fed by high winds swept down towards four Spanish firefighters who were battling a wildfire in the eastern Valencia region to prevent flames from reaching a village in the municipality of Bejis. 

Three firefighters were injured and several villages in the area were evacuated, local emergency services said on Twitter. The same fire had injured at least 10 passengers on a train on Tuesday who had tried to flee in panic after seeing the flames so close to the train.

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So far this year, wildfires have already burned more than 275,000 hectares in Spain and 87,000 in Portugal, with the latter representing around one per cent of Portuguese territory, the highest percentage in the European Union.

(With inputs from agencies)