At least 11 children lost their lives and 19 others were injured after a devastating fire swept through an orphanage in Mohammadia, a suburb east of Algeria's capital, Algiers, in the early hours of July 16, 2026. Authorities said the blaze broke out at around 3:30 a.m. at the two-story childcare facility while the children were asleep.


Emergency responders rushed to the scene and managed to evacuate several children, including five with disabilities. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment, with some suffering serious burns.


The cause of the fire has not yet been established, and Algerian authorities have launched an investigation. The tragedy occurred as the country battles an intense heatwave and a surge in fires, with civil protection services reporting hundreds of fire incidents across northern Algeria in recent days.


Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb expressed condolences to the families of the victims and pledged government support for survivors. The Prime Minister visited injured children in hospital following the disaster.


The fire has shocked Algeria and sparked calls for stronger safety measures in childcare institutions to prevent similar tragedies in the future.