Algerian Army Deploys Helicopters to Contain Ongoing Forest Fires

ALGIERS — Algeria continues to battle extensive forest fires across multiple provinces, recording 80 blazes within the past 24 hours, while civil protection services have successfully extinguished 72 of them, according to a toll announced by the General Directorate of Civil Protection, cited by Algerian Radio.

The Algerian army deployed MI-26 helicopters, with a capacity of 15,000 liters, to assist in the wildfire suppression efforts.

The fires broke out across forests, brushlands, agricultural crops, and palm groves. In this context, civil protection teams are continuing their efforts to extinguish eight active fires across the provinces of Souk Ahras, Skikda, El Tarf, Saïda, Béjaïa, Jijel, Tizi Ouzou, and Boumerdès.

On the firefighting front, the Algerian Ministry of Youth announced the launch of the "Youth Campaign to Support Firefighting and Relief Efforts," as part of state institutions' solidarity in confronting the aftermath of the wildfires sweeping several provinces.

The ministry stated that the campaign involves participation from volunteer club members in youth institutions, the "DZ Young Leaders" program participants, and partner associations.

The initiative aims to contribute to supporting state efforts and reinforcing values of national solidarity and mutual aid by mobilizing available human and material resources within the sector, the statement added.