At least 11 people died and 19 were injured after an orphanage caught fire in Algeria.
The blaze struck in Mohammadia, a district of the capital Algiers, early on Thursday, the country's civil defence said.
Among the injured, 10 suffered burns of varying severity, two were left with breathing difficulties, and seven received shock treatment.
Five people with special needs were evacuated to a safe location, the civil defence said.
Firefighters remained at the scene. Authorities said the casualty figures were preliminary.
At least 10 fire engines, 16 ambulances, two aerial ladder trucks, and a rough-terrain intervention unit were sent to combat the blaze, along with reinforcements from the National Training and Intervention Unit.
Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb, accompanied by the ministers of the Interior, Transport, Justice, Health, and National Solidarity, visited the Zeralda Burns Hospital and Mustapha Pacha University Hospital to assess the condition of those injured in the fire, according to state television.
Mr Ghrieb conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims on behalf of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
"We extend our sincere condolences to the families of the victims and pray that God grants them eternal peace," he said.
The Prime Minister added that authorities had issued all necessary instructions to ensure the injured would receive full medical care and support.
Algeria has been gripped by an intense heatwave in recent days, with authorities reporting more than 115 vegetation fires (forests, scrubland, brush, crops and palm groves) since Wednesday.
