Deadly Fire Kills Children At Algerian Welfare Home Amid Heatwave

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief

ALGIERS/BERLIN (Worthy News) – Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune expressed sorrow Thursday after a fire swept through a state-run child welfare home in the eastern suburbs of the capital, Algiers, killing at least 11 people and injuring 19 others.

Speaking during an official visit to Germany, Tebboune said he had received the news “with deep sorrow” and offered condolences to the families of the victims, while wishing those injured a speedy recovery. He added that several children were among the dead.

The blaze erupted at about 3:30 a.m. local time at the Childhood Relief Institution in the Mohammadia district of Algiers. The government-run facility houses orphans, abandoned children, and minors with special needs, providing shelter, medical care, and social support.

Witnesses said they awoke to the sound of fire engines and children screaming as firefighters battled the flames. Some rescuers reportedly used chainsaws to cut through metal window bars to reach those trapped inside.

CAUSE UNDER INVESTIGATION

Authorities said the cause of the fire was not immediately known. Officials cautioned that the death toll remained provisional as forensic specialists worked to identify several victims whose bodies were badly burned.

Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb visited survivors receiving treatment in hospitals, while the government pledged a full investigation into the tragedy.

The disaster occurred as Algeria struggles with an intense heatwave and hundreds of wildfires. Civil defense officials said 932 fires were recorded between July 8 and July 15, stretching emergency services across much of the country’s north.

More than 19,000 firefighters, backed by more than 700 fire engines, six helicopters, and 12 water-bombing aircraft, have been deployed to battle the blazes. Authorities have also evacuated residents from several northern provinces, including Bejaia, Guelma, Bouira, and Mila.

WILDFIRES STRAIN RESOURCES

Algeria, a North African nation on the Mediterranean coast, experiences destructive wildfires almost every summer. Authorities say prolonged drought, extreme heat, and strong winds have increased the frequency and intensity of fires, while some blazes are also believed to have been deliberately started.

In 2021, one of Algeria’s deadliest wildfire seasons killed at least 90 people, including dozens of soldiers who died while rescuing residents. Major wildfires in 2023 also claimed dozens of lives and destroyed thousands of hectares of forests, farmland, and homes.

The latest tragedy has renewed questions about fire safety standards in public institutions caring for vulnerable children. Investigators are expected to examine whether adequate fire prevention measures, emergency exits, alarms, and evacuation procedures were in place at the facility before Thursday’s blaze.

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