Algeria has laid to rest the 11 victims of a devastating fire that swept through an orphanage near the capital, Algiers, as authorities continue investigating the cause of the tragedy. The funeral ceremony took place on Thursday in Bakari, on the outskirts of Algiers, where members of the Algerian Civil Protection service carried the victims’ flag-draped coffins to their final resting place. Prime Minister Sifi Ghreib joined grieving families and other senior government officials to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in one of the country’s deadliest recent fire incidents.
Authorities have not released the ages or identities of the victims, but President Abdelmadjid Tebboune confirmed that several children were among those killed. The fire broke out overnight at the Fondation de l’Enfance Assistée orphanage in the Mohammadia district of Algiers, leaving 11 people dead and 19 others injured. Survivors are receiving treatment while investigators work to determine what sparked the blaze.
The tragedy comes as Algeria endures an intense heatwave that has fueled nearly 1,000 fires across the country in the past week, according to the Civil Protection agency. While most of the wildfires have now been brought under control, authorities are examining whether extreme weather conditions may have increased fire risks. The government has also announced plans to review and strengthen fire safety measures at orphanages, hospitals and other facilities housing vulnerable people, particularly during periods of extreme heat.
