At least 11 people were killed and 19 others injured when a fire broke out early Thursday at a child care center in the Mohammedia district on the eastern outskirts of Algiers, Algeria’s capital. The country’s civil defense authority confirmed the casualties and said firefighters launched an immediate rescue operation after receiving the alert around 3 a.m. local time. The blaze continued for several hours as crews worked to bring it under control.

Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the fire or released the identities or ages of the victims. Rescuers managed to evacuate five children with special needs to safety. State television footage showed Prime Minister Sifi Garib visiting a hospital to check on the injured.

The incident occurred as Algeria faces an extended heatwave that has triggered nearly a thousand wildfires across the country in the past week, placing additional strain on emergency services already under pressure.