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.



Makkah Taxi Service Introduced at Hajj Conference, Exhibition

The RCMC announced that Makkah Taxi began operations on Monday January 13 - SPA
The RCMC announced that Makkah Taxi began operations on Monday January 13 - SPA
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Makkah Taxi Service Introduced at Hajj Conference, Exhibition

The RCMC announced that Makkah Taxi began operations on Monday January 13 - SPA
The RCMC announced that Makkah Taxi began operations on Monday January 13 - SPA

The Hajj Conference and Exhibition marked the launch of Makkah Taxi, a new transportation service developed by the General Transport Center of the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites (RCMC), with the first operating license under the contract concession system in Makkah.
The RCMC announced that Makkah Taxi began operations on Monday, January 13, rolling out in phases to ensure a smooth transition.

According to SPA, the service will operate around the clock, featuring 47 designated locations strategically positioned throughout Makkah at key stations and around the Grand Mosque area for convenient access and efficient service.
Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh Al-Jasser presented the Makkah Taxi operating license to the winning company at the conference launch. The fleet is projected to reach approximately 1,800 vehicles by the end of 2025, significantly enhancing transportation services and meeting the growing demand within Makkah.