Forest fires have been burning across northwestern Tunisia since mid-July 2026, with the governorates of Le Kef and Béja most severely affected. Temperatures exceeding 49°C and strong winds have complicated firefighting efforts, drawing support from neighbouring countries and triggering updated travel advisories from several governments.
What Is Happening
The fires are concentrated inland, in the hilly and forested regions close to the Algerian border. The Le Kef and Béja governorates cover terrain well away from the tourist coast — the nearest major resort area is Tabarka, roughly 80 kilometres from the worst-affected zones. Tunisian civil protection teams, supported by aircraft from Italy and France, have been working to contain the blazes.
Copernicus Emergency Management Service activated a rapid mapping response on 24 July 2026, providing satellite data to coordinate the firefighting operation. Smoke from the fires has been visible across a wide area of the northwest.
Which Areas Are Affected
The fires are a northern interior phenomenon. The following areas remain fully unaffected and operating normally:
- Tunis and Carthage — capital and its archaeological sites, no disruption
- Hammamet and Nabeul — beach resorts on the Gulf of Hammamet, business as usual
- Sousse and Monastir — central coast resorts, unaffected
- Djerba — island resort area in the south, no disruption
- El Jem — UNESCO amphitheatre site, no disruption
- Douz and the Sahara — desert south, unaffected
Carthage International Airport and Enfidha-Hammamet Airport are both operating normally.
Travel Advice
If you are already in Tunisia or travelling there shortly, the principal precaution is to avoid the Le Kef and Béja interior and any road routes passing through active fire zones. The RN17 and surrounding roads in that region may be subject to temporary closures; check local updates before travelling northwest from Tunis.
Travellers booked to beach resorts, Tunis, Djerba, or the Sahara south have no reason to alter plans. Our travel information page covers entry requirements and safety contacts that remain current.
What to Watch
The key variable is weather. If temperatures drop and winds ease, containment typically follows within days. A sustained heatwave or wind shift could extend the affected area. Monitor your country’s foreign ministry travel advisory and check the Copernicus EMS updates, which are being refreshed as satellite passes occur.
For tour operators and those with activity bookings in northwestern Tunisia, contact your provider directly — most are operating normally outside the fire zone.
For practical contacts and what to do in an emergency in Tunisia, see our practical guide section. Our destinations pages cover whether specific areas you are visiting are in the affected region.