Eleven children died and 19 other people were injured after a fire broke out at a state-run orphanage on the outskirts of Algeria’s capital on Thursday.
The fire broke out in the Mohammadia district, east of Algiers, prompting rescue teams to rush to evacuate victims and residents trapped inside the building.
Algeria’s Civil Protection agency confirmed that 19 other people were injured, including 10 victims who suffered burns, while five children with disabilities were rescued from the orphanage.
The victims were evacuated to nearby hospitals for immediate treatment for smoke inhalation and respiratory difficulties.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the incident.
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune described the tragedy as a huge loss occurring on Algeria’s National Children’s Day. He extended his condolences to the families of the victims and the children killed in the blaze.
The incident comes as Algeria faces severe heat waves, resulting in hundreds of wildfires across the country, although authorities have not linked the orphanage blaze to the extreme weather.