• Forest fires have intensified amid a heatwave in northern Algeria, claiming lives and destroying homes and vehicles. Getty Images
    Forest fires have intensified amid a heatwave in northern Algeria, claiming lives and destroying homes and vehicles. Getty Images
  • A burnt-out car in El Tarf district. Getty Images
    A burnt-out car in El Tarf district. Getty Images
  • An amusement park in El Tarf was destroyed. Getty Images
    An amusement park in El Tarf was destroyed. Getty Images
  • Charred fairground rides. Getty Images
    Charred fairground rides. Getty Images
  • A burnt bus after wildfires El Tarf. Getty Images
    A burnt bus after wildfires El Tarf. Getty Images
  • This man's home was destroyed in El Kala. AFP
    This man's home was destroyed in El Kala. AFP
  • Checking the damage at the El Kala home. AFP
    Checking the damage at the El Kala home. AFP
  • An elderly woman's house was left in ruins. AFP
    An elderly woman's house was left in ruins. AFP
  • The fires have been made worse by drought. AFP
    The fires have been made worse by drought. AFP
  • Charred seats where bus passengers once sat. AP Photo
    Charred seats where bus passengers once sat. AP Photo
  • Bare branches in a burnt forest in El Kala. AFP
    Bare branches in a burnt forest in El Kala. AFP
  • Smoke billows in Souarekh. AFP
    Smoke billows in Souarekh. AFP
  • Fires have ravaged 14 districts of northern Algeria. Reuters
    Fires have ravaged 14 districts of northern Algeria. Reuters
  • Burnt woodland after wildfires in El Tarf. Getty Images
    Burnt woodland after wildfires in El Tarf. Getty Images
  • A bus beyond repair in El Kala. Reuters
    A bus beyond repair in El Kala. Reuters
  • The aftermath of a wildfire in Setif. Getty
    The aftermath of a wildfire in Setif. Getty
  • Temperatures had exceeded 47°C when numerous blazes broke out.
    Temperatures had exceeded 47°C when numerous blazes broke out.
  • Interior Minister Kemal Belcud said forest fires had broken out in 106 locations since the beginning of August.
    Interior Minister Kemal Belcud said forest fires had broken out in 106 locations since the beginning of August.
  • Fire vehicles sent to tackle the blaze at Setif.
    Fire vehicles sent to tackle the blaze at Setif.
  • Firefighters examine the site of the Setif wildfire.
    Firefighters examine the site of the Setif wildfire.

Algerian forest fires that killed 38 brought under control


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Forest fires in Algeria that killed at least 38 people have been brought under control, officials have said.

Firefighters on Thursday extinguished a string of blazes, with more than 100 wildfires reported this month.

Victims included 12 people who died in a bus that was trapped by flames.

Wildfires are frequent during this time of the year in Algeria.

Climate change has caused summer temperatures to reach 48°C degrees Celsius in some areas.

These include the north-eastern province of El Tarf, on the border with Tunisia, where most of the casualties were recorded.

About 350 people there were moved to safety, with 50 people taken to hospital in El Tarf city, which has a population of about 100,000, Ennahar TV reported.

At least 200 people suffered from burns or respiratory issues as a result of this week's fires, Algerian media reported.

Algeria's fire service says it deployed 1,700 personnel fight the flames in various areas.

Civilians were involved in the effort too.

An animal park worker said staff there had helped families to safety as the flames closed in.

“We had to wait three hours for the help to arrive,” Hakim Bouachiha, a security worker, said.

  • Forest fires have intensified amid a heatwave in northern Algeria, claiming lives and destroying homes and vehicles. Getty Images
    Forest fires have intensified amid a heatwave in northern Algeria, claiming lives and destroying homes and vehicles. Getty Images
  • A burnt-out car in El Tarf district. Getty Images
    A burnt-out car in El Tarf district. Getty Images
  • An amusement park in El Tarf was destroyed. Getty Images
    An amusement park in El Tarf was destroyed. Getty Images
  • Charred fairground rides. Getty Images
    Charred fairground rides. Getty Images
  • A burnt bus after wildfires El Tarf. Getty Images
    A burnt bus after wildfires El Tarf. Getty Images
  • This man's home was destroyed in El Kala. AFP
    This man's home was destroyed in El Kala. AFP
  • Checking the damage at the El Kala home. AFP
    Checking the damage at the El Kala home. AFP
  • An elderly woman's house was left in ruins. AFP
    An elderly woman's house was left in ruins. AFP
  • The fires have been made worse by drought. AFP
    The fires have been made worse by drought. AFP
  • Charred seats where bus passengers once sat. AP Photo
    Charred seats where bus passengers once sat. AP Photo
  • Bare branches in a burnt forest in El Kala. AFP
    Bare branches in a burnt forest in El Kala. AFP
  • Smoke billows in Souarekh. AFP
    Smoke billows in Souarekh. AFP
  • Fires have ravaged 14 districts of northern Algeria. Reuters
    Fires have ravaged 14 districts of northern Algeria. Reuters
  • Burnt woodland after wildfires in El Tarf. Getty Images
    Burnt woodland after wildfires in El Tarf. Getty Images
  • A bus beyond repair in El Kala. Reuters
    A bus beyond repair in El Kala. Reuters
  • The aftermath of a wildfire in Setif. Getty
    The aftermath of a wildfire in Setif. Getty
  • Temperatures had exceeded 47°C when numerous blazes broke out.
    Temperatures had exceeded 47°C when numerous blazes broke out.
  • Interior Minister Kemal Belcud said forest fires had broken out in 106 locations since the beginning of August.
    Interior Minister Kemal Belcud said forest fires had broken out in 106 locations since the beginning of August.
  • Fire vehicles sent to tackle the blaze at Setif.
    Fire vehicles sent to tackle the blaze at Setif.
  • Firefighters examine the site of the Setif wildfire.
    Firefighters examine the site of the Setif wildfire.

Farmers said some of their livestock were killed by the flames.

“My livestock are lost, as is the food for them. I'm not telling you about the other things I lost but I lost everything. Really, I have nothing left,” local farmer Ali Gharsi said.

Prime Minister Aimene Benabderrahmane said most of the victims were “vacationers who came to enjoy the paradisiacal beaches and enchanting landscapes” of the country.

The government will help support those who have lost loved ones and sources of livelihood, an official said.

Last year, fires killed at least 90 people and destroyed some 100,000 hectares of forest in farmland in northern Algeria.

ABU%20DHABI'S%20KEY%20TOURISM%20GOALS%3A%20BY%20THE%20NUMBERS
%3Cp%3EBy%202030%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi%20aims%20to%20achieve%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%2039.3%20million%20visitors%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20nearly%2064%25%20up%20from%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%20Dh90%20billion%20contribution%20to%20GDP%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20about%2084%25%20more%20than%20Dh49%20billion%20in%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%20178%2C000%20new%20jobs%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20bringing%20the%20total%20to%20about%20366%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%2052%2C000%20hotel%20rooms%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20up%2053%25%20from%2034%2C000%20in%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%207.2%20million%20international%20visitors%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20almost%2090%25%20higher%20compared%20to%202023's%203.8%20million%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%203.9%20international%20overnight%20hotel%20stays%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2022%25%20more%20from%203.2%20nights%20in%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Transmission: Seven-speed automatic

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Fuel economy, combined: 13.5L / 100km

Ibrahim's play list

Completed an electrical diploma at the Adnoc Technical Institute

Works as a public relations officer with Adnoc

Apart from the piano, he plays the accordion, oud and guitar

His favourite composer is Johann Sebastian Bach

Also enjoys listening to Mozart

Likes all genres of music including Arabic music and jazz

Enjoys rock groups Scorpions and Metallica 

Other musicians he likes are Syrian-American pianist Malek Jandali and Lebanese oud player Rabih Abou Khalil

Profile

Company name: Marefa Digital

Based: Dubai Multi Commodities Centre

Number of employees: seven

Sector: e-learning

Funding stage: Pre-seed funding of Dh1.5m in 2017 and an initial seed round of Dh2m in 2019

Investors: Friends and family 

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo

Power: 178hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 280Nm at 1,350-4,200rpm

Transmission: seven-speed dual-clutch auto

Price: from Dh209,000 

On sale: now

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5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (Turf) 2,200m
Winner: M'A Yaromoon, Jesus Rosales (jockey), Khalifa Al Neydai (trainer)

5.30pm: Khor Al Baghal – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: No Riesgo Al Maury, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

6pm: Khor Faridah – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: JAP Almahfuz, Royston Ffrench, Irfan Ellahi

6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Mahmouda, Pat Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi

7pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: AS Jezan, George Buckell, Ahmed Al Mehairbi

7.30pm: Khor Laffam – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m
Winner: Dolman, Antonio Fresu, Bhupath Seemar

Updated: August 19, 2022, 9:01 AM