Forest fires in Algeria killed dozens of people, including 25 soldiers deployed to help put out the blaze, as thick clouds of smoke covered much of the mountainous Kabylie region east of the capital.

Residents said the soldiers were killed in different areas, with some trying to extinguish the flames and others cut off by the spreading fire.

The mountainous Kabyle region is dotted with difficult-to-access villages and with temperatures rising has had limited water. Some villagers fled while others tried to hold back the flames themselves, using buckets, branches and rudimentary tools. The region has no water-dumping planes.

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