Algeria investigates orphanage fire that killed 11 near Algiers
A fire at an orphanage in Mohammadia, near Algiers, on 16 July killed at least 11 people and injured 19, occurring during a heatwave with nearly 1,000 fires reported in the previous week.
Algerian authorities have launched an investigation into a deadly fire at an orphanage in Mohammadia, a town near the capital Algiers. The blaze broke out on 16 July 2026, killing at least 11 people and injuring 19 others.
Firefighters, police, and forensic teams secured the scene as grieving families gathered outside the damaged building. Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb visited survivors in the hospital and expressed the government's condolences, stating that medical teams have been instructed to provide the best possible care for the injured.
The cause of the fire has not yet been announced. The tragedy unfolded as Algeria continues to experience an intense heatwave, which has increased the risk of fires across the country. Civil protection authorities reported nearly 1,000 fires over the previous week, putting emergency services under heavy strain.
Images from the orphanage showed soot-blackened windows, damaged walls, and firefighters conducting final inspections after the flames were extinguished. The investigation aims to determine how the fire started and whether additional safety measures are needed to protect vulnerable facilities during periods of extreme heat.
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