A fierce fire tore through a children’s orphanage in the eastern suburb of Mohammadia on Thursday morning, leaving 11 dead and 19 injured. Firefighters battled the blaze for more than three hours before the flames were contained.
The incident was traced to an electrical spark from a faulty air‑conditioning unit that had been running constantly to combat the intense summer heat. Forensic investigators found no other cause of ignition.
The civil protection department said the victim count included children, and a caretaker on site also perished. Five children with reduced mobility were safely rescued, but the tragedy has left families in shock and outrage.
Prime Minister Fedaa Sifi Ghrieb visited survivors at two hospitals where they receive treatment for burns, smoke inhalation and shock. The president, Abdelmajid Tebboune, released a statement that the death of children was a national tragedy, calling for mercy.
Opposition figures and media outlets demand an impartial investigation into negligence and safety failures. The Jil Jadid party has called for a nationwide review of fire‑safety protocols in orphanages, care homes, hospitals and schools. Journalist Akram Kharief urged fire‑safety audits across all public institutions.
Social media users question who supervised the children that night, while criticism has been levelled at the mayor and provincial governor for their absence from the initial rescue effort, according to Le Matin d'Algérie.
