Rabat – Algeria has been struggling to put out the ravaging wildfires that claimed the lives of at least 34 people – particularly in the coastal region of Bejaia.
APPS, Algeria’s state news agency, reported on Tuesday that 23 of the victims were recorded in Bejaia, where local authorities have been attempting to extinguish the blazes.
The fatalities included 10 soldiers who were mobilized to help out with the evacuation process.
The Interior Ministry said yesterday that local authorities managed to put out 80% of the fires.
In a new update on Tuesday evening, the prosecutor’s office in the Bejaia region announced the arrest of two suspects for their alleged involvement in starting the wildfires in the region.
The suspects were transferred to the anti-terrorism and organized crime section in an Algerian court, according to the same source.
Several countries expressed concerns about the ravaging wildfires in Algeria, expressing sympathy and solidarity with the Algerian government.
A statement from Morocco’s Foreign Affairs Ministry on Tuesday said that Rabat has been following the situation with the utmost concern.
Although diplomatic ties between the two countries have been frozen since August 2021, when Algeria’s government unilaterally announced “suspending all relations with Morocco,” the ministry also extended Morocco’s offer to help its neighbor through this national tragedy.
Algeria cut ties with Morocco in 2021, accusing Rabat of undermining its security and stability – blaming Rabat for the former fatal and devastating wildfires.
The allegations came a few days after Morocco – at King Mohammed VI’s request – offered to send firefighting jets to assist Algeria in putting out the devastating fires.
Morocco rejected the unproven allegations, describing them as unfounded claims and fallacies, as well as underlining its commitment to solidarity with the Algerian people despite lingering political divergences with the Algerian leadership.
