Algeria’s state prosecutor has ordered an investigation into the lynching of a man suspected of deliberately starting wildfires.
Djamel Bensmail died after he was beaten and set ablaze
The incident took place in the Tizi Ouzou area of the country which has been hardest hit by the blazes which have been raging across the country for days – killing at least 73 people.
Thousands of mourners attended the funeral of Mr Bensmail whose parents said had gone to help fight the fires.
Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said that 22 suspected arsonists had been arrested.
Two Canadair firefighting aircraft and a command plane sent by France have joined the effort to put out the blazes. Two more will arrive from Spain on Friday.
Many fires started up in the Kabylia region and elsewhere, on August 9 and Algerian authorities sent soldiers to help citizens with the blazes and evacuations.
As at 10 August 2021, multiple fires have burned Mediterranean trees, destroying olive trees and killing cattle and chickens. Many distant villages have very limited water.
Some villagers fled, while others tried to hold back the flames themselves, using buckets, branches and rudimentary tools. The firefighting aircrafts were not available then.
The fires are suspected to be organized arson.
