23 Injured Following Electrical Blaze and Gas Explosion in Algeria

 A severe structural fire followed by a gas explosion inside a high-rise residential building has left 23 people injured in the Oued Tlelat municipality of Oran Province, Algeria. The emergency prompted a massive deployment of local civil defense and security forces overnight.

According to an official statement released by the Algerian Civil Protection Directorate, emergency response units were dispatched to the scene at 9:06 PM following urgent reports of a localized fire breaking out in the building's electrical metering infrastructure.

The blaze originated in the ground-floor utility room and rapidly escalated upwards through the main electrical shafts, spreading heavy smoke and fire all the way to the ninth floor of the ten-story residential block. As the fire compromised the building's infrastructure, it triggered a secondary, violent gas explosion inside a private apartment located on the second floor.

The combined impact of the electrical fire and subsequent gas blast resulted in varying degrees of injuries for 15 civilian residents. Among the most vulnerable victims rescued from the smoke-logged property were a 65-year-old man and a 10-year-old child.

First responders administered emergency medical care at the site before transferring the injured residents to the Oued Tlelat Hospital for specialized treatment and medical observation.

The hazardous environment also took a toll on the emergency response teams. Civil Protection officials confirmed that six firefighters sustained minor injuries while battling the flames and navigating the building to evacuate trapped residents.

Additionally, two police officers suffered minor lacerations while establishing a security perimeter and managing crowds outside the burning facility. The inclusion of the emergency workers brought the total casualty count to 23.

Firefighting crews successfully contained the blaze, preventing the flames from completely engulfing neighboring apartments. A specialized forensic investigation has been launched by local authorities to determine the exact mechanical or electrical failure that initiated the metering box ignition.