ALGIERS – Algeria was battling to contain devastating forest fires along its Mediterranean coast on Tuesday, with at least 34 people killed so far, the authorities said, adding that they have managed to control about four-fifths of the blazes.

Fanned by strong winds, fires have also spread to neighbouring Tunisia, forcing the closure of two border crossings.

A relentless heatwave has caused havoc across the planet in July, with temperatures breaking records in China, the United States, southern Europe and North Africa, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake.

Greece has been battling forest fires for the past week, triggering a mass evacuation of thousands of tourists from its most popular holiday resorts.

In Algeria, the fires broke out in several provinces on Monday, ripping through forests, olive groves and low-lying shrubland.

More than 8,000 firefighters were deployed to bring the flames under control.

Algerian civil protection services said 15 fires were raging across eight regions on Tuesday at Skikda, Jijel, Bouira, Bejaia, Tebessa, Medea, Setif and El Tarf.

Ten of the 34 victims reported on Monday were soldiers. The authorities said they had evacuated some 1,500 people from their homes.

In Tunisia, temperatures of 49 deg C were recorded in some cities this week.

Civil protection units, backed by forestry workers and the air force, were working to put out fires in several areas of Tabarka in the north-west, bordering Algeria.

Mr Moez Tria, spokesman for Tunisian civil protection, said priority was given to protecting residential communities in the region and preventing the flames from reaching an airport in the area.

Fires also broke out in other regions of the country including Bizerte, Beja and Siliana. REUTERS