Algeria raises alarm over imminent floods

Civil Protection department raised alarm over an imminent disaster if expected rains turn into floods in western and center of Algeria, according to Civil Protection General Director.

“Civil Protection department sent a telegraph on Sunday to all provincial departments to get mobilized to face any emergency,” Colonel Mustapha Lahbiri told Echorouk on the phone.

“We received a special forecast bulletin from the National Metrological Office saying heavy rains will pour on some provinces in west and center of Algeria. Snow will fall on heights in El Bayedh, Naama and Bechar,” he added.

Civil Protection department mobilized all physical and human means to assist people in all circumstances. “We rely on our men who are used to intervene in such circumstances. They proved their experience and readiness.”

The department call center backed up its personnel. They will be in charge of receiving calls and transmitting them to teams working in the field in order to speed up intervention operations, according to the same source.

Last winter, Civil Protection department registered thousands interventions as Algeria experienced a snow wave which had lasted for days.

Authorities established warehouses in each province to use them when a catastrophe happens.

Earlier, Algerian energy minister Youcef Youssefi said authorities will ensure butane gas for people in an attempt to avoid any shortage contrarily to what happened last year.