In brief
A catastrophic fire tore through a foster care facility in Algiers on Thursday morning, claiming eleven lives and leaving 19 people injured. Firefighters were still battling the blaze when the report was filed at 06:50 local time, while a heatwave had already sparked nearly a thousand fires across the country. Those with special needs were rescued and transferred to safety. Prime Minister Sifi visited hospitals to see those affected. The incident highlights the growing threat of fire in Algeria’s hot summer, raising urgent concerns about child safety and emergency response capabilities.
Tragic blaze killed eleven residents at a child care facility in Algiers on Thursday.
Firefighters were still battling the inferno when officials reported the death toll and the injuries, which now total nineteen.
The civil protection agency did not disclose the ages of those affected but confirmed that a group of five people with special needs were rescued and moved to a safer location.
Algeria has been experiencing a heatwave for several days, and nearly 1,000 fires have been recorded in the space of one week, AFP reports.
Prime Minister Abdelmadjid Sifi visited two hospitals in Algiers to see the injured after the fire, as shown in a photo next to a child in a hospital bed.
The tragedy underscores the urgent need for fire safety measures, especially for vulnerable facilities, amid an ongoing nationwide emergency situation.
