An orphanage fire in Algeria on Thursday killed 11 children and injured 19 others, according to authorities.
The blaze began around 3:30 a.m. in a two-story building located in Mohammedia, a suburb east of Algiers. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and no ages for the deceased children have been released. No adult fatalities or injuries were reported.
Rescue teams evacuated five children with mobility issues, while some of the injured were transported to a burns specialist hospital. A spokesperson for the Civil Protection department confirmed the details.
A nearby resident, Yassin Ibrize, recounted hearing screams and rushing to the scene. He described seeing flames engulf the building and attempted to rescue children inside. Ibrize sustained injuries to his shoulder, head, and pelvis during his efforts, aided by his son Amir. Amir stated he was the first to exit the building and found an overwhelmed officer. He attempted to go upstairs but was prevented by heavy smoke.
Security officials later secured the orphanage, whose exterior showed signs of the fire with charred window frames.
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, speaking from Berlin where he is on an official visit, expressed his condolences. "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 following the fire that broke out in a childcare institution," Tebboune said. The fire occurred on Algeria's national children's day. The country is currently experiencing a heatwave that has contributed to nearly 1,000 fires in recent days, as reported by the Civil Protection Agency.
