A fire erupted early on July 16 at an orphanage in the Mohammadia district on the outskirts of Algiers, Algeria, killing 11 people including children, and injuring 19 others, according to official reports [1, 2, 3]. Eyewitnesses said the blaze started around 3 a.m. local time [2].
Among the injured, 10 suffered burns of varying severity. Five people with disabilities were safely evacuated from the facility [1, 2]. Authorities have not yet released details about the identities or ages of the victims, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation [1, 2].
The orphanage fire occurred amid an ongoing heatwave in Algeria that has triggered hundreds of fires across the country. Between July 8 and July 15, civil defense forces reported extinguishing more than 900 fires nationwide [1, 2]. The government mobilized approximately 19,000 personnel, 700 trucks, six helicopters, and 12 water-bombing planes to battle the widespread blazes [2].
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune extended condolences for the victims on social media from Berlin, where he was attending talks. "I have received news of the deaths of children and the injuries of others following a fire that broke out at a children's care facility," he said [2].
The investigation into the fire’s cause and victim details is ongoing, with authorities continuing rescue and support efforts at the orphanage.
Meanwhile, firefighters remain vigilant as warmth and dry conditions persist in the region.
