At least 11 children have tragically lost their lives, and 19 others have sustained injuries in a fire that occurred at a children’s care home in Algeria.
The devastating incident occurred around 3:30 am today at an orphanage located in the Mohammadia district of Algiers, the capital of Algeria. Reports confirm that all 11 individuals who perished were children.
Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune mentioned that “several children” were among the deceased. Ten individuals suffered burns of varying degrees, while five individuals with special needs were safely evacuated from the facility in the North African nation.
According to Algeria’s General Directorate of Civil Protection, two individuals experienced respiratory distress, and seven were in a state of shock. The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation.
In response to the tragic fire at the Dar Al-Aytam Orphanage in the Mohammadia municipality, extensive firefighting efforts were initiated at 3:32 am. The Civil Protection services deployed ten fire trucks, 16 ambulances, two ladder trucks, and the GRIMP (Ground Rock Intervention Unit) to the scene.
Images captured at the site depict thick smoke emanating from the building while firefighting teams battled to contain the blaze.
Algeria has been grappling with a severe heatwave in recent days, with over 900 fires reportedly extinguished across the country since July 8.