At least 11 people were killed and 19 others injured after a fire broke out early Thursday at an orphanage in the Mohammadia district on the outskirts of Algiers, Algerian authorities said.
The country’s civil defence agency reported that emergency teams responded swiftly to the blaze. Ten of the injured suffered burns of varying degrees, while others experienced breathing difficulties and psychological shock. Five people with disabilities were successfully evacuated from the facility.
The exact number of child victims has not yet been officially confirmed, though the facility houses orphans and vulnerable children. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The incident has shocked the country, coming amid a severe heatwave affecting Algeria. Authorities have launched an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, including possible safety lapses at the orphanage.
Story by : Emmanuel Nettey
