Algeria President Mourns Children Killed In Algiers Orphanage Fire

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has expressed grief over the deaths of children in a fire that tore through a state-run child welfare home in the eastern suburbs of Algiers early on Thursday, killing at least 11 people and injuring 19 others.

Tebboune said in a social media post that he had received news “of the deaths of children and the injuries of others” following the blaze, offering his condolences to the families of the victims.

The fire broke out at approximately 3:30 a.m. local time at the Childhood Relief Institution in the Mohammadia district of Algiers. The state-run facility provides shelter, medical care, and social support to orphans, abandoned minors, and children with special needs.

Civil protection officials said 10 of the injured suffered burns of varying severity, two were treated for severe respiratory distress from smoke inhalation, and seven others were treated for severe psychological shock.

Five residents with special needs were evacuated to safety.

Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb visited survivors at Mustapha Pacha University Hospital in Algiers to check on those receiving medical treatment. The government pledged full medical and psychological care for victims and support for their families.

Firefighting and search operations have since concluded. Security and judicial authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire.

The blaze comes as Algeria endures a severe heatwave, with civil protection authorities recording nearly 1,000 fires across the country since 8 July.