Algerian Orphanage Fire Claims 11 Lives, Sparks Calls for Safety Overhaul
A sudden blaze tore through the children's care home in the eastern suburb of Algiers, killing 11 people, including children, and injuring 19 others. Forensic investigators linked the inferno to an electrical spark from a faulty, continuously running air‑conditioning unit used during the intense summer heatwave.
The fire service battled the flames for at least three hours, while ten fire engines and 16 ambulances were deployed early on Thursday morning.
President Abdelmajid Tebboune announced that children were among those killed, stating: "It is with a heart resigned to the will of God that I learned of the death of children and the injury of others." A carer at the orphanage was also among the deceased.
Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb personally visited survivors at two hospitals where they received treatment for burns, smoke inhalation and shock.
The tragedy has ignited protests and calls for accountability. Opposition members and media outlets demand a transparent investigation and a nationwide review of fire safety standards in orphanages, care homes, hospitals and schools.
Journalist Akram Kharief described the fire as a "national tragedy" and urged fire safety audits at all public institutions. Social media commenters questioned who supervised children overnight and called for resignations.
Algerian authorities noted that five children with reduced mobility were rescued safely from the blaze. Le Matin d'Algérie highlighted the absence of the mayor and provincial governor during the initial rescue operation.
Meanwhile, Algeria grapples with an intense heatwave and several wildfires across the north, underscoring the urgent need for rigorous fire prevention measures.
