Forest fires in Algeria: “There are criminals at work”

The forest fires in Algeria have already claimed at least 65 lives. About 70 fires are blazing in Kabylia, a densely forested and densely populated area. The authorities speak of arson.

“Help that is on fire in Kabylia” – this reputation spreads rapidly with photos and videos on social media. A doctor films the evacuation of the hospital in the village of Ain El Hammam. Staff, patients – including the neonatal ward, have to flee.

He was live on the premises in the hospital, there was general panic, he reports. “For the firefighters, the work is overwhelming, the fires are immense, there is wind, God is protecting us, I can’t find words to express what’s going on here.”

Videos on social media show people fleeing the flames and thick clouds of smoke in their cars. The air glows yellow, red, orange. Young men with T-shirts in front of their mouths try to knock out fires that threaten their villages with branches.

The region has been on fire for days

The 40-year-old doctor Muhammed also came to help, he told the French news agency AFP. The flames are overpowering. In the morning they had seen the fire from a distance and two minutes later they had already been here. “Thank God we got our families and the elderly out of here on Wednesday. We’re fighting now, trying everything we can to put out the fire, to protect our homes. We can’t understand how this could happen – so much fire in one day. It’s not normal. “

The heavily forested and densely populated mountain region east of the capital Algiers has been burning for days. There are now said to be around 70 sources of fire. According to the rescue workers, winds also spread the fire and make extinguishing work more difficult. According to authorities, dozens of people have already died in the fires, including rescue workers.

“The people and the residents pay the price”

In the same place the 33-year-old Idir tries to support the rescue workers as a volunteer. With a thin mask and protective goggles, he stands in front of a burning truck and points to the houses: “The people and the residents are paying the price. The fires have reached our houses, we have three dead and four injured, who came here because of the fire and smoke were brought. “

The Algerian government speaks of arson. Interior Minister Kamel Beldjoud traveled to the fire area. “50 sources of fire at the same time – that is impossible. We have always known forest fires, with one or two sources of fire – but more than a dozen at exactly the same time. There are criminals at work,” says Beldjoud.

Kabylia is a historic stronghold of protest. Demonstrations against the regime break out here regularly. Accusations quickly became loud on the spot. Some people in the region have criticized the government for being too half-hearted to help Kabylia. The authorities arrested several suspected arsonists.

The summer heat in Algeria leads to water shortages and fires every year. This year, too, the forests are dry – just like the largest reservoir in the region. There is no rain in sight. On the contrary: The weather service has forecast temperatures of over 40 degrees for the coming days.