North Africa wildfires 2026: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia

Yes. Algeria is experiencing a severe wildfire crisis in July 2026. More than **1,600 fire outbreaks** have been recorded across the country since early July, driven by an exceptional heat wave with temperatures approaching **50°C**. At least **6 people** have died in the fires, with thousands of hectares of forest destroyed. Emergency services and military units have been deployed. France 24 published footage on July 24, 2026, documenting the scale of the crisis. Sources: France 24 (July 24, 2026).

Yes. Morocco is also facing severe wildfires in July 2026 as part of the same North African heat wave that is simultaneously hitting Algeria and Tunisia. Temperatures have reached extreme levels across the Maghreb region, creating ideal wildfire conditions: prolonged drought, very low humidity, and hot, dry winds. Moroccan civil protection services have deployed firefighting resources and aerial support. Sources: France 24 (July 24, 2026).

Tunisian civil protection services recorded more than **900 fires in 72 hours** during the peak of the July 2026 heat wave. The scale of fire starts, nearly one fire every five minutes, reflects how extreme conditions have made vegetation across the country highly combustible. The fires affected forests, farmland, and rural areas in several governorates. Sources: France 24 (July 24, 2026).

The North Africa wildfires of July 2026 are driven by a combination of **record heat** (temperatures near 50°C in some areas), **prolonged drought**, and **dry seasonal winds** that have left vegetation across Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia critically dry and combustible. Climate scientists link the increasing intensity and frequency of such extreme fire seasons to long-term climate change, which is making heat waves in North Africa more severe and more likely. The region has been particularly vulnerable in recent years.

They are part of the same **regional climate pattern** but are separate events. The France and Spain wildfires (which forced over 160,000 evacuations in late July 2026, particularly in the Gironde and near Madrid) are driven by the same sustained European and Mediterranean heat wave and drought cycle that is simultaneously hitting North Africa. The fire conditions on both sides of the Mediterranean share the same climate root cause, though the specific fire fronts are distinct. Sources: France 24, feuxdeforet.fr.

Yes. The United Nations has warned that 2026 is on track to be an **unprecedented year for wildfires worldwide**. By mid-2026, more than **150 million hectares** had already burned globally, roughly **50% above the seasonal average**. Fires across North Africa, Western Europe, and North America in summer 2026 are all part of the same intensifying global trend that scientists attribute primarily to climate change extending and intensifying fire seasons. Source: UN, feuxdeforet.fr.

During the peak of the July 2026 heat wave, temperatures in parts of Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia approached **50°C** (122°F). These are among the most extreme temperatures ever recorded in the region and go well beyond the seasonal average. The extreme heat, combined with months of drought and dry seasonal winds such as the Sirocco, created the conditions for the rapid spread of wildfires across the Maghreb. Sources: France 24 (July 24, 2026).

Yes. In Algeria, at least **6 deaths** have been confirmed in connection with the wildfires as of late July 2026. Casualty figures from Morocco and Tunisia were still being assessed. In past years, North African wildfire seasons have resulted in dozens of deaths: Algeria's 2021 fires killed over 70 people. The full human toll of the 2026 crisis will likely take weeks to confirm fully. Sources: France 24.

The July 2026 wildfires are occurring during peak tourist season and are affecting some areas popular with visitors. Morocco and Tunisia are major summer destinations, and smoke, evacuations, and heat extremes are disrupting travel in affected regions. Travellers are advised to monitor official government travel advisories and local news for updates, and to follow any evacuation instructions from local authorities if in a fire-affected area.