Listeners:
Top listeners:
-
play_arrow
Deadly Fire Kills Children At Algerian Welfare Home Amid Heatwave
by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief
ALGIERS/BERLIN (Worthy News) – Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune expressed sorrow Thursday after a fire swept through a state-run child welfare home in the eastern suburbs of the capital, Algiers, killing at least 11 people and injuring 19 others.
Speaking during an official visit to Germany, Tebboune said he had received the news “with deep sorrow” and offered condolences to the families of the victims, while wishing those injured a speedy recovery. He added that several children were among the dead.
The blaze erupted at about 3:30 a.m. local time at the Childhood Relief Institution in the Mohammadia district of Algiers. The government-run facility houses orphans, abandoned children, and minors with special needs, providing shelter, medical care, and social support.
Witnesses said they awoke to the sound of fire engines and children screaming as firefighters battled the flames. Some rescuers reportedly used chainsaws to cut through metal window bars to reach those trapped inside.
CAUSE UNDER INVESTIGATION
Authorities said the cause of the fire was not immediately known. Officials cautioned that the death toll remained provisional as forensic specialists worked to identify several victims whose bodies were badly burned.
Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb visited survivors receiving treatment in hospitals, while the government pledged a full investigation into the tragedy.
The disaster occurred as Algeria struggles with an intense heatwave and hundreds of wildfires. Civil defense officials said 932 fires were recorded between July 8 and July 15, stretching emergency services across much of the country’s north.
More than 19,000 firefighters, backed by more than 700 fire engines, six helicopters, and 12 water-bombing aircraft, have been deployed to battle the blazes. Authorities have also evacuated residents from several northern provinces, including Bejaia, Guelma, Bouira, and Mila.
WILDFIRES STRAIN RESOURCES
Algeria, a North African nation on the Mediterranean coast, experiences destructive wildfires almost every summer. Authorities say prolonged drought, extreme heat, and strong winds have increased the frequency and intensity of fires, while some blazes are also believed to have been deliberately started.
In 2021, one of Algeria’s deadliest wildfire seasons killed at least 90 people, including dozens of soldiers who died while rescuing residents. Major wildfires in 2023 also claimed dozens of lives and destroyed thousands of hectares of forests, farmland, and homes.
The latest tragedy has renewed questions about fire safety standards in public institutions caring for vulnerable children. Investigators are expected to examine whether adequate fire prevention measures, emergency exits, alarms, and evacuation procedures were in place at the facility before Thursday’s blaze.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
The Trump administration has formally designated the Juárez Cartel and Los Viagras as foreign terrorist organizations, expanding the federal government’s effort to dismantle criminal networks accused of flooding American communities with illegal drugs and terrorizing populations on both sides of the southern border.
The United States has approved a proposed $1.96 billion weapons sale to Saudi Arabia as fighting intensifies across the Middle East and the kingdom faces renewed missile threats from Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement.
Ukraine faced mounting political turmoil Thursday after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, triggering rare wartime protests as Russian forces intensified attacks across the country.
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune expressed sorrow Thursday after a fire swept through a state-run child welfare home in the eastern suburbs of the capital, Algiers, killing at least 11 people and injuring 19 others.
The United States carried out two waves of strikes against Iran on Wednesday, marking the fifth consecutive day of American attacks on military assets belonging to the Islamic regime as the battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz widened across the Middle East.
A majority of House Democrats casting a yes-or-no vote Wednesday supported cutting off funds designated for Israel, marking one of the clearest signs yet that the Democratic Party is shifting away from its longstanding support for the Jewish state.
Syrian security forces have intercepted a large shipment of advanced weapons near the Iraqi border that authorities said was intended for the Hezbollah terrorist organization in Lebanon.
WHO WE ARE
The Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs encapsulate the beauty, wisdom, and eternal truths found in the Bible, creating an immersive experience that resonates with believers and seekers alike.
CONTACT
- +1 908 280-4246
- Essex County, USA
- info@tnjrfm.com