Eleven dead in fire at Algerian foster care home

A fire broke out at a foster care home in Algiers, the capital of Algeria, early Thursday morning, killing 11 people and injuring 19 others, according to the country's civil protection department. Firefighters began battling the blaze at 3:30 a.m. local time (4:30 a.m. GMT). More than three hours later, authorities provided an update, stating that efforts to extinguish the flames were ongoing. The statement did not specify the ages of the victims.

To combat the fire, the civil protection department deployed 10 fire engines and 16 ambulances to the scene. Algeria has been experiencing a heatwave for several days, and nearly 1,000 fires have been recorded over the past week, reported AFP. Algerian state media said Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb visited two hospitals in Algiers to check on those injured in the fire. The report included a photo of Ghrieb next to a child in a hospital bed.

Five people with special needs were 'taken into care and transported to a safe location' during the fire, authorities said.