At least 11 children have tragically lost their lives, and 19 others have sustained injuries in a fire that erupted at a children’s care facility in Algeria.

The devastating incident occurred around 3:30 am today at an orphanage located in the Mohammadia district of Algiers, the capital city of Algeria. Reports from local sources indicate that all the casualties were children.

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune confirmed that “several children” were among the deceased. Additionally, ten individuals suffered burns of varying degrees, while five individuals with special needs were safely evacuated from the premises in the North African nation.

According to Algeria’s General Directorate of Civil Protection, two individuals experienced respiratory issues, and seven others were in a state of shock. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.

In response to the tragic event at the Dar Al-Aytam Orphanage in Mohammadia, the Civil Protection services swiftly intervened to extinguish the fire. The firefighting operation involved the deployment of ten fire trucks, 16 ambulances, two ladder trucks, and the GRIMP (Ground Rock Intervention Unit). Colonel Boualem Boughlaf, the Director General of Civil Protection, personally oversaw the firefighting efforts at the scene.

Footage from the incident site depicts dense smoke emanating from the structure as fire crews battled to contain the flames.

Algeria has been grappling with a severe heatwave in recent days, with over 900 fires reportedly extinguished across the country since July 8.