25 killed in wildfires across Algeria, Tunisia also affected

Algiers: Wildfires raging across Algeria have killed 25 people, including 10 soldiers trying to get the flames under control in the face of high winds and scorching summer temperatures, government ministries said on Monday.

The Interior Ministry said that at least 1,500 people were evacuated, without providing details, as reported by PTI.

The Ministry announced 15 deaths and 24 injuries. In addition, the Defence Ministry later announced 10 soldiers were killed and 25 injured as they fought fires in the resort area of Beni Ksila east of the capital Algiers.

It was not immediately clear over what period of time the casualties happened, but the fires have been burning for several days.

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 100 kilometers (60 miles) southeast of 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. Last August, at least 37 people were killed after wildfires blazed near Algeria's 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.

Tunisia's wildfires destroy 470 hectares of forests

Meanwhile, in neighbouring Tunisia also hit by wildfires, the government has set up a crisis unit to control wildfires that ravaged the northwestern province of Jendouba, IANS has reported.

In a statement, the government said that Prime Minister Najla Bouden Romdhane made the decision on the instructions of President Kais Saied, reports Xinhua news agency.

"The crisis unit aims to coordinate the efforts of all intervening parties to control the fires and protect citizens and their property," it said.

On Monday morning, Tunisian authorities evacuated residents from the Melloula village in the province after a wildfire broke out in the forests.

During the past four days, massive wildfires destroyed about 470 hectares of forests in the village, which is located in the coastal city of Tabarka.

Heat waves blazing Tunisia have brought temperatures approaching 50 degrees Celsius in several provinces, according to the National Institute of Meteorology.

(With inputs from agencies)