Overview
- The orphanage in Mohammadia caught fire before dawn on Thursday and the blaze has left 11 people dead and 19 injured, officials said.
- First responders and local residents evacuated five people with special needs and treated 10 burn victims, two cases of severe respiratory distress, and seven people for psychological shock.
- Police and forensic experts have identified an electrical spark from an air-conditioning unit as the likely ignition source, according to authorities' statements.
- A security and judicial investigation is under way and forensic officials warn badly burned remains may require DNA tests to complete identification.
- The tragedy comes as Algeria endures a severe heatwave that has fuelled roughly 900–1,000 fires since July 8 and stretched civil-protection resources nationwide.