Deadly Orphanage Fire in Algeria Claims Eleven Lives

A fire at an orphanage resulted in the deaths of eleven individuals, including children, in Algeria early Thursday morning, authorities reported, as firefighters battled multiple infernos across the nation amid scorching temperatures of around 100°F.

Algeria’s General Directorate of Civil Protection, the emergency response agency, did not disclose the victims’ ages, though President Abdelmadjid Tebboune confirmed on social media that children perished in the blaze.

Firefighters arrived at the scene around 3:30 a.m. in Mohammadia, a suburb of Algiers, the civil protection agency said. Ten individuals were rescued with burn injuries, and nine others received treatment for respiratory complications or shock.

Five residents with special needs were evacuated, the agency added.

Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the fire, which is among more than 900 wildfires that Algerian firefighters have fought across the northern part of the country in the past week, according to state media. An intense heat wave has gripped the nation, with temperatures projected to climb as high as 118 °F (48 °C) in the north this weekend.

While the tragedy unfolded, President Tebboune was on an official visit to Germany, meeting with members of the Algerian diaspora and discussing economic cooperation with German officials. He posted a message of condolence on social media that day.

“In the face of this great calamity that occurred yesterday on the occasion of National Children’s Day, I ask God the Almighty to envelop the deceased in His vast mercy, and to grant the injured a speedy recovery,” he said.

Wildfires remain a persistent threat in Algeria; a 2022 blaze claimed at least 37 lives in the country’s northeastern region.

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