11 killed in orphanage fire as Algeria struggles in heatwave

At least 11 people, including children, died in a devastating fire at an orphanage in Algeria's capital, Algiers, on Thursday. The tragedy occurred as the country grapples with a severe heatwave that has ignited hundreds of wildfires across its northern regions.

Firefighters battled the blaze in the Mohammadia suburb from before dawn. A local resident described hearing the fire engines and the children screaming, stating that by the time they could help, 11 people had already perished. Black stains were visible around the building's windows, and firefighters reportedly used a chainsaw to remove metal bars from a window.

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At around 3:00 am, we heard the fire engines arriving and the children screaming. We helped as much as we could, but unfortunately we were told that 11 people had already died.

The Algerian civil defense confirmed the provisional death toll and reported that 19 others were injured. Some victims were so badly burned that DNA tests will be required for identification, according to the head of forensic medicine at Mustapha Bacha Hospital. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune expressed condolences, noting that several children were among the dead.

This incident occurs as Algeria experiences intense heat, with civil defense reporting 932 fires between July 8 and 15. While most have been extinguished, some continue to burn. A municipal worker died battling a blaze in Setif. The civil defense has mobilized significant resources, including personnel, trucks, helicopters, and water-bombing aircraft, and has evacuated residents from several provinces. Forest fires are a recurring issue in northern Algeria during summer, exacerbated by drought and climate change, often causing significant loss of life and property.

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several children