ALGIERS, Algeria — A fire at an orphanage near Algiers killed 11 children and injured 19 early Thursday, authorities confirmed.
Algeria’s Civil Protection Agency reported the incident began at approximately 3:30 a.m. at a two-story childcare facility in Mohammedia, east of the capital.
Victim ages were not disclosed, with no adult casualties or injuries reported.
Rescue teams evacuated five children with mobility challenges, while injured children were transferred to a specialized burn hospital, according to Lt. Col. Nassim Bernaoui, head of Civil Protection communications.
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune expressed condolences during an official visit to Berlin, stating, ‘With a heart resigned to divine will, I learned of the tragic loss of children and injuries sustained in this fire.’
The fire occurred on Algeria’s National Children’s Day amid a severe heatwave that triggered nearly 1,000 nationwide blazes in the past week, per the agency.
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