Algiers, Algeria said Tuesday it was shutting down schools in the vast majority of its provinces for the next two days, as the country prepares for a major storm.

Winds are expected to reach speeds of 120 kilometres per hour (74 miles per hour) in regions spanning most of the North African country on Wednesday, including in the capital Algiers.

The education ministry said in a statement that classes were suspended across 52 of Algeria’s 69 provinces following the “urgent” storm alert.

The Algerian civil defence urged the public to exercise extreme caution, asking residents to ready “lighting that does not rely on electricity”, stay away from windows and power poles, and avoid travel except in cases of necessity.

Last week, severe weather in Algeria left two people dead, including a child, the civil defence said.

In Relizane, as well as in Algiers and Tipaza, entire neighbourhoods were flooded last week and several roads were cut off due to heavy rains and flooding.

Heavy rainfall also hit neighbouring Tunisia, where several people were reported dead in flooding and at sea.

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