Heatwave brings power cuts to Tunisia and wildfires to Algeria

An intense heatwave sweeping North Africa has caused prolonged power cuts across Tunisia, where temperatures have climbed as high as 49 degrees Celsius. The outages have added to the strain already placed on households and businesses by the extreme heat, with residents reporting hours without electricity even as the heat persists.

In neighboring Algeria, wildfires linked to the same heatwave have hospitalized more than 100 people, the country's interior minister said this week. Firefighting crews have been deployed to several affected regions as blazes continue to spread under dry, hot conditions, with authorities working to bring the fires under control.

The dual crisis underscores the strain extreme heat is placing on infrastructure and emergency services across the region. Forecasters warn the heatwave could persist for several more days, raising the risk of further power disruptions and fire activity. Authorities in both countries face mounting pressure to shore up their response as the hot spell continues.