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Orphanage blaze in Mohammedia
A fire at a two-storey orphanage in Mohammedia, an eastern suburb of Algiers, killed 11 children and injured 19 others, according to Algeria’s Civil Protection agency.
“11 children killed and 19 injured in an overnight orphanage fire in Algeria A fire at an orphanage near the capital of Algeria killed 11 children and injured 19 ALGIERS, Algeria -- A fire at an orphanage near the capital of Algeria killed 11 children and injured 19 early Thursday, authorities said”
The blaze broke out at around 3:30 a.m. local time (4:30 a.m. CEST) on Algeria’s National Children’s Day, and authorities said they had not reported any adult fatalities or injuries.
Euronews said rescue teams evacuated five children with reduced mobility and that several of the injured were taken to a specialist burns hospital.
AP reported that security officials guarded the entrance to the orphanage, beneath charred, empty window frames, while authorities did not say what caused the fire.
Witnesses and officials react
A nearby resident, Yassin Ibrize, told media that he heard screams and voices coming from the burning orphanage and that he ran out without a shirt on.
Ibrize said, "We heard screams and voices coming from the burning orphanage, and then I saw that the flames had begun to engulf the place and the girls were inside," describing the moment he rushed to try to rescue children trapped inside.
Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune expressed condolences to those impacted by the fire, saying, "It is with a heart resigned to the will of Allah that I learned of the death of children and the injuries suffered by other children of Algeria."
The BBC reported that President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said he had received news "in submission to God’s will" of the deaths of children and injuries to others from the fire.
Heatwave context and next steps
The fire occurred as Algeria experienced a heatwave that has sparked nearly 1,000 fires, with the Civil Protection agency reporting 932 fires between July 8 and July 15.
“Algeria fire kills 11 and injures 19 at an orphanage in Mohammadia”
DW said the civil defense reported 932 fires between July 8 and 15 and that it mobilized more than 19,000 personnel and 700 trucks to battle forest fires, along with six helicopters and 12 water-bombing aircraft.
The BBC said authorities had not indicated any link between the heat wave and the Mohammadia institution fire, and that the cause of the fire remains unknown.
In the aftermath, TRT عربي reported that Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb took part in the funeral ceremony for the victims, with the statement saying the remains of 10 children were buried at the Sidi Razine Cemetery and the family of the eleventh victim carried out the funeral and burial at the Boudouaou Cemetery in Boumerdes Province.
