Tunisia sets up crisis unit to control wildfires

Tunis : The Tunisian government has set up a crisis unit to control wildfires that ravaged the northwestern province of Jendouba.

In a statement, the government said that Prime Minister Najla Bouden Romdhane made the decision on the instructions of President Kais Saied, reports Xinhua news agency.

“The crisis unit aims to coordinate the efforts of all intervening parties to control the fires and protect citizens and their property,” it said.

On Monday morning, Tunisian authorities evacuated residents from the Melloula village in the province after a wildfire broke out in the forests.

During the past four days, massive wildfires destroyed about 470 hectares of forests in the village, which is located in the coastal city of Tabarka.

Heat waves baking Tunisia have brought temperatures approaching 50 degrees Celsius in several provinces, according to the National Institute of Meteorology.