https://arab.news/8pknt
- The fire at a childcare facility in Algiers killed 11 people and injured 19
- Police said an electrical spark from an air conditioner caused the deadly blaze
JEDDAH: Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent cables of condolences to Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune over the victims of a fire at an assisted childhood institution in Algiers, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
The fire broke out before dawn on Thursday at the childcare facility in the Mohammadia suburb of the Algerian capital.
King Salman expressed his deepest condolences and sincere sympathy to Tebboune, the families of the deceased and the people of Algeria. He prayed for mercy and forgiveness for those who died, patience and solace for their families, and a speedy recovery for the injured.
The crown prince also extended his deepest condolences and sincere sympathy to Tebboune and the families of the victims, praying for mercy for those who died and a speedy recovery for all those injured.
Algerian police said Friday that the fire, which killed 11 people, was caused by an electrical spark from an air-conditioning unit that had been running continuously as the country endured a heatwave, according to AFP.
A 52-year-old caregiver was among those killed, while authorities have not disclosed how many children died. Nineteen others were injured, according to Algeria's civil defense.
The blaze was one of several fires reported in northern Algeria during a week in which nearly 1,000 fires broke out across the region, most of them later contained, AFP reported.
Summer forest fires are a recurring problem in northern Algeria, exacerbated by drought and climate change. In recent years, such fires have killed dozens of people, destroyed thousands of hectares of forest and farmland, and damaged homes.