Most of the forest fires that have ravaged northern Algeria are under control, the country’s civil protection authority announced on Monday. The fires that began on August 9 have killed over 90 people.
More than 74 fires were put out over the weekend, with 19 reported to still be burning on Sunday. Those fires no longer posed a danger to local residents, according to the authority, AFP reported.
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Algeria’s Interior Minister Kamel Beldjoud last week blamed fires, said to have started at the same time, on arson, though he did not provide any evidence. A continuing heatwave provided the conditions for the fires to rapidly spread.
Fires also spread through Turkey and Greece in recent days, as well as a major fire near Jerusalem.