At least 11 people, including children, have been killed after a fire ripped through an orphanage in Algeria’s capital, Algiers, as the country battles a severe heatwave that has fuelled hundreds of wildfires across its northern region.
The blaze broke out at an orphanage in the Mohammadia suburb of Algiers in the early hours of Thursday, with firefighters battling the flames from before dawn.
Algerian authorities said the death toll remains provisional, while 19 other people sustained injuries. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
“At around 3:00 a.m., we heard the fire engines arriving and the children screaming,” said Abdessalam Merrah, 41, who lives near the orphanage.
“We helped as much as we could, but unfortunately we were told that 11 people had already died.”
Black scorch marks were visible around the building’s windows on Thursday morning, while a witness said firefighters used a chainsaw to cut through metal window bars during the rescue operation.
Rachid Belhadj, head of the forensic medicine department at Mustapha Bacha Hospital, told local television that some of the victims’ bodies were completely burned, making DNA tests necessary for identification.
Algerian President, Abdelmadjid Tebboune later confirmed that “several children” were among those killed.
State television also broadcast footage of Prime Minister, Sifi Ghrieb, visiting injured victims at two hospitals in Algiers.
*932 Fires Recorded in One Week*
The tragedy comes as Algeria faces an intense heatwave that has triggered widespread wildfires across the country.
According to the civil defence, 932 fires were recorded between July 8 and July 15. While most have been brought under control, a small number remain active.
On Wednesday, a municipal worker died while battling a wildfire in the northern province of Setif, according to a local mayor.
The civil defence said more than 19,000 personnel, 700 fire trucks, six helicopters and 12 water-bombing aircraft have been deployed to combat the fires.
Residents have also been evacuated from parts of Bejaia, Guelma, Bouira and Mila, the APS state news agency reported.
Northern Algeria experiences devastating forest fires every summer, a situation worsened by prolonged drought and climate change. In recent years, the blazes have claimed dozens of lives, destroyed thousands of hectares of forests and farmland, and damaged numerous homes.
Authorities also believe some of the fires were deliberately started and say several suspects have been arrested.