In brief
A devastating fire at a foster care facility in Algiers claimed eleven lives and left 19 injured, as firefighters struggled to contain the blaze in the midst of a severe heatwave. Authorities reported a spike in wildfires across Algeria, with nearly a thousand ignitions recorded over the past week, highlighting the increasing threat that rising temperatures pose to communities. The incident exposed gaps in fire‑safety protocols for care homes, prompting calls for stricter regulations and better emergency preparedness. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abdelmadjid Tebboune visited hospitals to meet the injured, underscoring government involvement in crisis response.
Eleven people died and 19 were injured in a blaze that engulfed a foster care facility in Algiers, Algeria’s capital, on Thursday morning.
The incident unfolded amid a multi‑day heatwave that has already generated almost a thousand fires across the country, according to the civil protection department.
Firefighters were still fighting the blaze at 06:50 local time (05:50 GMT) when the report was issued.
Special‑needs residents were evacuated to safe locations, while Prime Minister Abdelmadjid Tebboune visited hospitals to check on the wounded.
Experts warn that climate‑driven heatwaves amplify the risk of such tragedies, emphasizing the need for stronger fire‑safety measures in vulnerable care facilities.
