AT LEAST 12 people died and 54 were injured after wildfires ravaged parts of north-eastern Algeria.

Minister of Interior Said Sayoud told reporters: “Five deaths were recorded in the prefecture of Jijel, four in that of Bejaia and three in that of Tizi Ouzou.” 

He reported 54 burn cases at the hospital, including six people who were in critical condition.

Mr Sayoud said civil protection teams recorded 154 fire outbreaks across the country on Wednesday, including 36 in Bejaia province, 18 of which had been brought under control.

The fires come as a severe heatwave sweeps across Algeria and neighbouring Tunisia.

Mr Sayoud said firefighting teams have managed to contain the blazes in the provinces of Skikda, El Tarf, Bouira, Tizi Ouzou and Tebessa.

Firefighting operations were still under way in Bejaia, where 18 hotspots remained active, and in Jijel, where fires were burning in 12 municipalities.

He also reported that dozens of families had been evacuated from areas affected by the fires.

Algeria frequently endures deadly seasonal wildfires during peak summer months.

At least six people were killed last month alone.

In recent years, intense heatwaves and fierce winds have amplified fire risks across the country’s forested Mediterranean coastline, brought on by drought and climate change.