ALGIERS / Abbas Mimouni / Anadolu

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Friday inspected the injured from the orphanage fire in the capital, immediately upon his return from an official visit to Germany, while the Ministry of Culture announced the suspension of festive activities and events across the country for three days.

In the early hours of Thursday, a fire broke out at the Affectionate Childhood Institution in the municipality of El Mohammedia east of the Algerian capital, resulting in 11 deaths and 19 injuries.

The Algerian News Agency reported that President Tebboune went directly from the airport to the major burns hospital in Zeralda (west of the capital), where he was briefed on the health condition of the injured.

It added that he 'listened to explanations provided by the medical team overseeing the health condition of the injured in this fire, and spoke with a number of survivors.'

Accompanying the president during the visit were Chief of Staff Said Chanegriha, Health Minister Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudane, Minister of National Solidarity, Family and Women's Affairs Souria Mouloudji, along with the General Director of Civil Protection Boualem Boughlef.

In a related context, the Ministry of Culture and Arts announced the immediate suspension of all cultural and artistic activities of a festive nature across the country for three days, in solidarity with the fire victims.

The ministry stated that the decision comes as an expression of 'deep condolences and full solidarity' with the victims of the fire that broke out on Thursday at the Affectionate Childhood Institution in El Mohammedia east of the capital.

On Friday, the General Directorate of National Security announced that initial inspections showed that the fire was caused by an electrical spark from an air conditioner in one of the first-floor rooms, due to its continuous operation amid high temperatures, stressing that investigations are still ongoing.

Algeria is experiencing a severe heatwave expected to continue until Sunday, according to meteorological services, while heatwaves and forest fires in recent years have caused casualties and extensive losses, prompting authorities to tighten penalties against those responsible for starting them.