Eleven killed in orphanage fire in Algiers suburb

On Thursday, July 16, a fire broke out at a child welfare institution in the Mohammedia suburb of Algiers. Algerian civil protection authorities reported that the blaze started around 3:00 to 3:30 a.m. The provisional death toll stands at 11 people, with 19 others injured. While initial reports identified the victims as children, official authorities have not yet confirmed the ages of those deceased. Rescuers managed to evacuate five children with limited mobility during the operation. Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb visited survivors at the Zeralda and Mustapha Pacha hospitals. The incident occurred during an intense heatwave affecting Algeria, with the country recording over 900 fires within a single week. The cause of the fire remains under official investigation.