A devastating fire ripped through an orphanage on the outskirts of Algeria’s capital, Algiers, early on Thursday, killing 11 people and injuring 19 others, according to Algerian state media and the country’s Civil Protection Agency.
The flames broke out in the Mohammadia district in the eastern suburbs of Algiers and galvanized the emergency response. Firefighters and rescue teams rushed to the scene to battle the flames and evacuate the building’s residents.
The officials said 10 of the injured suffered burns of varying severity and were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. Emergency personnel also managed to evacuate five residents with disabilities from the orphanage in an effort to prevent the death toll from rising further.
Authorities did not identify the victims then or at this time disclose their ages to the public. The exact cause of the fire still is under investigation.
The Civil Protection Agency said firefighting operations continued for several hours to ensure the flames were extinguished and that they didn’t spread to nearby buildings. When the site is safe investigators will look at it to find out what started the deadly fire.
The tragedy comes as Algeria is in the midst of a heatwave, with temperatures rising and the risk of fires mounting. Emergency teams have responded to 913 fires since July 8, the state-run Algerie Presse Service (APS) reported based on the General Directorate of Civil Protection.
Although officials have not connected the orphanage fire to the ongoing heatwave, authorities are on high alert due to the sharp rise in fire incidents in recent days.
Many are grieving over the loss of lives in a facility meant to provide shelter and care for the most vulnerable children. Local authorities will investigate whether fire safety measures at the orphanage were sufficient.
Emergency services have advised residents to be very cautious in the heat and humidity and that there is more fire risk in urban and rural areas as high temperatures continue to increase the chances of fire.
Details of the victims' identities and the result of the investigation are expected to be released after investigators complete their preliminary inquiry.
