Emergency services in Algeria said a wildfire has killed two people west of the capital, Algiers. The wildfire had been one of a wave of seasonal blazes to hit the north African country. 10 of the country’s 58 provinces have reported fires in the past 24 hours.

Al Jazeera reports that the two men killed were trapped in a chicken coop. Nearby residents were evacuated from their homes after the fire swept through forest near the city of Tipaza.

The blaze, which broke out on Friday night, saw more than 50 additional firefighters having to be dispatched from Algiers.

Tipaza authorities had in September announced their worst year for wildfires since 2010. Almost a thousand hectares of forest or crops have perished in flames.

Al Jazeera reports that last year, Algeria had lost more than 21 000 hectares between June and November. The country’s forestry department said up to one percent of it’s vegetation is lost annually to seasonal wildfires.

So far, eight people have died as a result of the fires.

Umm Muhammed Umar