Algeria registered 22 forest fires across eight provinces late Thursday, with the most severe outbreaks reported in Tipaza province in the country’s center, according to the Algerian Civil Defense.
In a statement released at 10:30 p.m. local time (2130GMT), authorities said fires had been detected in provinces across the east, center, and west of the country, with the most intense blazes occurring in Tipaza’s mountainous areas.
Videos shared by local media and activists showed evacuation operations in Hadjret Ennous municipality, where flames advanced toward residential areas. State-run Ennahar TV reported that gendarmerie units evacuated families from affected neighborhoods.
Civil protection teams have since brought the situation under control, according to local officials.