A devastating fire at a two-storey orphanage in Mohammedia, an eastern suburb of Algiers, has resulted in the deaths of 11 children. The incident occurred early Thursday morning, with emergency services reporting that the blaze broke out at approximately 3:30 am local time (4:30 am CEST).
Local resident Yassin Ibrize, who witnessed the unfolding tragedy, described rushing to the scene after hearing the commotion. "We heard screams and voices coming from the burning orphanage, and then I saw that the flames had begun to engulf the place and the girls were inside. I ran out without a shirt on," Ibrize told media outlets.
Algeria's Civil Protection agency confirmed that 19 other children sustained injuries during the fire. Lt. Col. Nassim Bernaoui, head of communications for the Civil Protection department, stated that several of the wounded were transported to a specialist burns hospital for treatment. Rescue teams were credited with successfully evacuating five children who had reduced mobility.
Following the disaster, security officials secured the site, where the window frames of the building remained charred. The tragedy occurred on Algeria’s National Children’s Day, a fact noted by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who is currently on an official visit to Berlin. In a statement, the President expressed his deep condolences, saying, "It is with a heart resigned to the will of Allah that I learned of the death of children and the injuries suffered by other children of Algeria following the fire that broke out in a childcare institution."
