Algerians Flee Wildfires in Country's Northeast

Civil Defense teams try to put out fires in Jijel last summer. (file photo/Civil Defense)
Civil Defense teams try to put out fires in Jijel last summer. (file photo/Civil Defense)
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Algerians Flee Wildfires in Country's Northeast

Civil Defense teams try to put out fires in Jijel last summer. (file photo/Civil Defense)
Civil Defense teams try to put out fires in Jijel last summer. (file photo/Civil Defense)

Algerian firefighters on Sunday were battling blazes in the northeastern Kabylie region as families were ordered to evacuate, local media and an AFP journalist said.

Residents were told to leave homes in the fire's path in Tizi Ouzou province, news site Ennahar Online reported quoting a forest official, though it was not immediately clear how many people were affected.

Numerous wildfires have broken out in Tizi Ouzou since Friday, though most of them have been brought under control or were expected to soon, said civil defence official Nassim Bernaoui.

"The situation is under control, but outbreaks of fire continue in hard-to-reach areas," he told AFP in the village of Ait Frah, south of Tizi Ouzou city.

The AFP journalist saw olive groves and fig orchards consumed by fires, as well as hen coops, beehives and some homes.

Authorities in Bejaia province, near Tizi Ouzou, ordered the evacuation of around 20 families from Mezouara village, which is located near a forest where blazes raged on Sunday.

Online videos showed a water bomber deployed to help contain the forest fire.

Wildfires are a common sight in summer in northern Algeria, increasingly exacerbated by drought and heatwaves scientists say are linked to climate change.

More than 30 people died in massive fires that ravaged Bejaia in July 2023, destroying thousands of acres of forests and agricultural lands as well as hundreds of homes.



Arab Tourism Organization Recognizes Marbella as Top Destination for Arab Tourists, Honors its Mayor

During a meeting Al-Fuhaid and Munoz discussed various aspects of mutual cooperation. SPA
During a meeting Al-Fuhaid and Munoz discussed various aspects of mutual cooperation. SPA
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Arab Tourism Organization Recognizes Marbella as Top Destination for Arab Tourists, Honors its Mayor

During a meeting Al-Fuhaid and Munoz discussed various aspects of mutual cooperation. SPA
During a meeting Al-Fuhaid and Munoz discussed various aspects of mutual cooperation. SPA

President of the Arab Tourism Organization Dr. Bandar bin Fahd Al-Fuhaid has recognized Spain’s Marbella city as a top destination for Arab visitors and honored its Mayor, Angeles Munoz, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported Sunday.

During a meeting, Al-Fuhaid and Munoz discussed various aspects of mutual cooperation, including the exchange of expertise in the quality of tourism services, the training and qualification of tourism sector workers, and the increase of tourism investments, SPA said.

Al-Fuhaid said the organization is mulling, in partnership with the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport (AASTMT), to establish a training and development academy in Marbella.

The goal is to enhance the skills and qualifications of Arab youth for careers in tourism by leveraging Spain's extensive experience, which is recognized as one of the world's leading countries in the tourism sector, SPA added.