An orphanage fire in the Mohammadia suburb of Algiers resulted in the deaths of at least 11 individuals, including several children, early Thursday morning. Emergency responders arrived shortly after 3:00 am, though neighbors reported hearing children screaming before the rescue efforts could save everyone. Witness accounts and visual evidence suggest the building’s security bars hindered escape efforts, forcing firefighters to use chainsaws for access.
The Algerian civil defence noted that the death toll is currently provisional, with 19 others suffering injuries. Forensic experts at Mustapha Bacha Hospital indicated that some victims were burned so severely that DNA testing will be necessary for identification. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune confirmed the tragedy involved multiple children, while Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb visited the survivors in local hospitals.
This disaster occurred as Algeria faces a severe heatwave that has triggered nearly 1,000 fires across the country since July 8. While most blazes are under control, thousands of firefighters have been deployed to combat the remaining flames. Similar wildfires have caused extensive damage to land and homes in northern Algeria in recent years, often intensified by drought and climate change. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fires, with some arrests already made regarding suspected deliberate arson.
