Algerian police say an electrical fault from an air conditioning unit caused the fire that claimed the lives of 11 people at an orphanage in the capital, Algiers.
The blaze broke out before dawn on Thursday at a childcare facility in the Mohammadia suburb, killing 11 people, including a 52-year-old caregiver.
Authorities have not disclosed how many of the victims were children. However, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune earlier said several children were among those who lost their lives in the tragedy.
The country’s civil defence agency said 19 other people sustained injuries during the incident and received medical attention.
According to police investigations, forensic experts traced the origin of the fire to an air conditioning unit that had been operating continuously amid the intense heatwave currently affecting the country.
The incident comes as Algeria battles a surge in fires across its northern region. Civil defence authorities said nearly 1,000 fires have been recorded over the past week, although most were brought under control before causing major damage.
Earlier this week, a municipal worker died while battling a wildfire in Setif Province.
Northern Algeria experiences widespread forest fires every summer, with authorities attributing the increasing frequency and intensity of the outbreaks to prolonged drought and the effects of climate change.
In recent years, the fires have claimed dozens of lives and destroyed thousands of hectares of forests, farmlands and residential properties.
