11 killed, 19 injured in orphanage blaze in Algeria — Pajhwok

KABUL (Pajhwok): At least 11 people were killed and 19 others injured after a fire broke out at an orphanage on the outskirts of the Algerian capital, Algiers, early on Thursday, state media reported. According to Reuters, the fire erupted at an orphanage in the Mohammadia district, located in the eastern suburbs of Algiers. The Algerian Civil Protection Agency said 10 of the injured sustained burns of varying severity, while emergency crews safely evacuated five people with disabilities from the facility. Firefighting operations were still underway, the agency said, adding that the identities and ages of the victims had not yet been disclosed. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Algeria has been experiencing an intense heatwave in recent days. Since July 8, civil protection units have extinguished 913 fires across the country, the state news agency APS reported on Wednesday, citing the General Directorate of Civil Protection.