Eleven People Die in Fire at Algiers Foster Care Home
Eleven children died when a foster care building in Algiers, the capital of Algeria, caught fire early on Thursday morning.
The General Directorate for Civil Protection confirmed that 19 other people were injured in the blaze and that firefighters were still battling the flames at 06:50 local time (05:50 GMT).
Authorities have not disclosed the ages of those who were killed or injured. Among those rescued were five children with special needs, who were taken into care and transported to safe locations.
Algeria has been experiencing a prolonged heatwave, and reports indicate that nearly 1,000 fires have been recorded in just the past week. The incident highlighted the urgent need for stricter fire safety protocols in child care facilities.
In response to the tragedy, Prime Minister Abdelmadjid Tebboune visited two hospitals in Algiers to meet with the wounded. A photo of the Prime Minister standing beside a child in a hospital bed was released to the public.
