In brief
In a tragedy in Algiers, a fire at a foster care home claimed 11 lives and left 19 others wounded. The blaze broke out during an intense heatwave that has caused a surge in fires nationwide. Authorities confirmed the victims’ ages were not disclosed, but five children with special needs were moved to a secure location. Prime Minister Billel Sifi visited the injured in hospitals, underscoring the scale of the emergency.
A devastating fire in Algiers has engulfed a foster care home, killing eleven children and injuring nineteen others.
Local civil protection officials reported that the blaze ignited early Thursday morning amid a severe heatwave that has already sparked almost a thousand fires across Algeria.
The victims’ ages remain undisclosed, but authorities noted that five children with special needs were removed to a safe location as firefighters battled the flames.
Prime Minister Billel Sifi personally visited the hospitals treating the injured, delivering a symbolic statement of solidarity. A photo of the Prime Minister beside a child in a hospital bed accompanied the announcement.
The incident highlights rising safety concerns within child welfare institutions during extreme weather conditions. Algerian authorities and international observers call for improved emergency preparedness and fire safety protocols in similar facilities worldwide.
