Electrical Spark from Air Conditioner Caused Deadly Mohammadia Childcare Centre Fire
Algerian police have identified an electrical spark from an air-conditioning unit as the cause of the deadly fire at the assisted childhood institution in Mohammadia, Algiers.
Specialised National Security teams launched an investigation immediately after the fire broke out early Thursday morning. The blaze killed 11 people and injured 19 others at the childcare facility.
In a statement issued on Friday, the National Security services said forensic police experts and crime-scene technicians carried out examinations inside the building to determine where and how the fire started.
Their initial findings indicated that the blaze was caused by an electrical spark originating from an air conditioner installed in a room on the first floor of the institution.
According to the statement, the appliance had been operating continuously because of the significant rise in temperatures recorded in the capital. Investigators concluded that its uninterrupted use led to the electrical fault that triggered the fire.
Police also confirmed that a 52-year-old female educator was among the people who lost their lives in the tragedy.
The investigation remains open as the competent National Security services continue examining the circumstances surrounding the incident. The inquiry is expected to determine whether additional technical, organisational or safety-related factors contributed to the scale of the fire.
Civil Protection teams were alerted at approximately 3:30 a.m. and deployed extensive emergency resources to the scene. Nineteen injured people were rescued, while five children with special needs were moved to a safe location.
The injured were transferred to healthcare facilities, where medical teams were mobilised to provide emergency treatment and specialised care.
The General Directorate of National Security concluded its statement by expressing sincere condolences to the victims’ families and wishing the injured a rapid recovery.
