Wildfires killed 15 people in the mountainous Bejaia and Bouira regions of Algeria on Monday, the Interior Ministry said, as a heat wave spread across north Africa and southern Europe. The Algerian Defense Ministry said 10 soldiers were killed in the fires. Some 7,500 firefighters were battling to bring the flames under control, authorities said. Firefighters were also at work in the Boumerdes, Tizi Ouzou, Jijel and Skikda regions. A major heat wave is sweeping across North African countries, with temperatures of 49 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit) recorded in some Tunisian cities.

Source: The North Africa Journal July 24, 2023 15:23 UTC