Dirkou:Niamey A severe fire broke out on October 24, 2026, in the palm grove of the rural commune of Dirkou, specifically in the village of Argui, impacting nearly a thousand individuals and destroying several hectares of date palms and vegetable crops, as reported by the Direction Générale de la Protection Civile (DGPC).
According to Saudi Press Agency, on October 27, 2026, the prefect of the Bilma department, Captain Lamine Hamet, visited Eyni in the village of Argui to assess the damages caused by the fire that occurred on the previous Saturday.
The fire devastated gardens and date palms, resulting in significant losses for the affected populations. During his visit, the prefect, accompanied by an administrative, security, and humanitarian delegation, expressed sympathy to the victims and provided moral support. He personally donated a sum of 200,000 FCFA to them as part of the visit, which underscores the administrative authorities' commitment to supporting the affected communities during difficult times.
The DGPC's report, released on October 28, 2026, detailed that 173 households were impacted, affecting 981 people. The fires also destroyed 1,197 date palms and consumed 185 gardens of vegetable crops.