Death toll in Algerian wildfires rises to 26

The number of victims of wildfires in Algeria has risen to 26 from eight reported earlier, the Interior Minister said.

The wildfires are burning in mountainous areas east of Algeria and the victims were from the provinces of Al Taref and Setif.

Firefighters and helicopters were still trying to contain several blazes threatening residents.

A year ago, at least 65 were killed in the Kabylie region. (Reuters)