11 children died in a fire at an Algerian orphanage – AP
On July 16, a fire at a two-story children’s home in Mohammedia, an eastern suburb of the Algerian capital, killed 11 children and injured 19 others. The tragedy occurred around 3:30 a.m. on Algeria’s National Children’s Day.
Rescue teams successfully evacuated five children with mobility impairments. Several victims were hospitalized at a specialized burn center, according to Lieutenant Colonel Nassim Bernoui, head of the civil protection communications department.
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune expressed his condolences to those affected by the fire. The ages of the victims have not yet been disclosed; authorities have also not reported any adult fatalities or injuries, and the cause of the fire remains unknown. According to the Civil Protection Agency, Algeria has been experiencing a severe heat wave in recent days, which has already led to nearly 1,000 fires.
Source: AP.
Since the start of the 2026 wildfire season in France, law enforcement has detained 32 people suspected of being involved in starting the fires. In total, more than 8,000 wildfires have been recorded in the country since the beginning of the year.
The European Union has dispatched specialized firefighting aircraft to assist France and Portugal.
