The civil protection agency said that El Tarf was the worst hit area with 16 fires in progress. Kamel Beldjoud, the country's interior minister, said 24 died in El Tarf, near the border with Tunisia. Firefighters, supported by helicopters, were still trying to contain several blazes on Wednesday evening. Reports say some 350 residents have been evacuated in various provinces. The civil protection agency said that El Tarf was the worst hit area with 16 fires in progress.