Local Authorities’ Vigilance Averted Major Wildfire Disaster in Annaba, Says Sayoud
The vigilance and swift response of Algeria’s civil and military authorities, supported by local residents, prevented a potentially major disaster during the forest fires that affected Seraïdi in Annaba Province, Interior Minister Saïd Sayoud said on Wednesday.
Sayoud made the statement while inspecting firefighting operations in Seraïdi alongside a ministerial delegation. The visit was conducted on the instructions of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to assess the situation on the ground and follow the efforts of the various services mobilized to contain the fires and assist affected residents.
The minister explained that a large forest fire broke out on Tuesday and spread toward the urban area of Seraïdi. He praised the alertness of local civil and military authorities, as well as the contribution of citizens, saying their coordinated action had prevented a disaster “in every sense of the word.”
More than 100 patients were evacuated from Seraïdi’s public hospital after the flames approached its surroundings. They were transferred as a precaution to the Abderrahmane Khan emergency hospital in El Bouni, where doctors, paramedical teams and psychologists provided the necessary medical and psychological care.
Sayoud later confirmed that the transferred patients were in a reassuring and stable condition following an on-site assessment of their health.
He also noted that exceptionally high temperatures had contributed to the outbreak of several fires across the country, affecting almost all northern provinces and requiring extensive mobilization by emergency services.
The minister stressed that President Tebboune was receiving real-time updates on the operations being carried out by Civil Protection, local authorities, security services and other mobilized agencies.
The rapid evacuation of patients and precautionary measures taken to protect Seraïdi residents demonstrated the importance of preparedness and coordination during emergencies. Civil Protection services mobilized the necessary human and material resources to contain the fires and safeguard citizens and their property.
