In brief
A blaze that erupted on Thursday morning at an Algiers foster care home left eleven people dead and 19 injured, according to the civil protection department. Emergency services were still battling the flames at 07:50 local time when the report was issued. The incident occurred during a prolonged heatwave that has already triggered nearly a thousand fires across Algeria. Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb visited hospitals to meet the wounded, and five children with special needs were relocated to secure facilities.
Eleven people die in fire at a foster care centre in Algiers
A blaze that broke out on Thursday morning in a foster care home in the capital city of Algiers resulted in eleven deaths and 19 injuries, the state civil protection department said. The fire, which authorities say was still fighting at 07:50 local time, left several rooms engulfed by flames. Eight of the victims are believed to be children under the age of ten, although the department has not released exact ages.
Five children with special needs were taken into protective care and moved to a safe location while emergency services ran throughout the night. The same agency reports that Algeria is battling a prolonged heatwave, which has already produced nearly a thousand separate fires in the past week.
Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb flew to two hospitals in Algiers to meet the wounded and spoke with families, a statement from state media said. She was photographed beside a child in a hospital bed, underscoring the personal impact of the tragedy.
Image: Firefighters in blue uniforms stand in front of fire trucks.
