In brief
A sudden fire at a foster care home in Algiers left 11 people dead and 19 injured amid a worsening heatwave. Firefighters fought the blaze into the early morning. Five children with special needs were rescued and moved to safe locations. The Prime Minister visited the hospitals treating those harmed. The tragedy adds to a week of nearly a thousand fires across Algeria.
11 people lost their lives when a fire erupted at a foster care home in Algiers.
The blaze claimed 11 lives and left 19 people injured, according to Algeria’s civil protection department. The incident happened early on Thursday, with firefighters still battling the flames at 6:50 a.m. local time.
Among the victims were five children with special needs, who were taken to a safe location by emergency responders. Authorities have not disclosed the ages of the deceased or the injured.
The tragedy comes during a multi‑day heatwave that has sparked nearly 1,000 fires in the past week across Algeria, according to the AFP news agency.
Prime Minister Ahmed Sifi Ghrieb visited two hospitals in Algiers that day, offering support to the wounded and their families. A photo of the Prime Minister beside a child in a hospital bed was shared by state media.
