Harry Archie
At least 11 people, including children, have died after a fire broke out at an orphanage in Algiers, the capital of Algeria.
The fire started in the early hours of Thursday in the Mohammadia area. Firefighters responded quickly, but the flames had already spread through the building.
Authorities said 19 other people were injured. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
A nearby resident said he heard children screaming as fire trucks arrived. Some of the victims were badly burned and will need DNA tests to confirm their identities.
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune confirmed that several children were among those who died. Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb later visited the injured in hospitals.
The tragedy comes as Algeria faces a severe heatwave that has led to hundreds of fires across the country’s northern region. Officials said 932 fires were recorded between July 8 and July 15, with thousands of emergency workers deployed to fight the blazes and protect affected communities.
