Charred beds in the dormitory of the Bourj al-Arab orphanage. (Credit: Michel Hallak)
A fire broke out at around 6:30 a.m. on Friday morning in a dormitory at the Bourj al-Arab orphanage in North Lebanon, reported the Civil Defense and L'Orient-Le Jour's correspondent in northern Lebanon, injuring three children, two of whom were hospitalized at the Dr Abdallah Rassi government hospital in Halba (Akkar).
"The causes of the incident are still unknown," according to a Civil Defense source in Halba contacted by L'Orient-Le Jour. "But the incident, which started in a bed, was quickly contained by teams from the Bebnine-Abdeh center, who were dispatched to the scene," added the source, who requested anonymity.
A Lebanese Red Cross team was also on the scene to treat the injured.
"The fire destroyed several beds and caused significant material damage to the institution," stated L'Orient-Le Jour's correspondent, who added that "the competent authorities have opened an investigation to determine the cause of the fire."
No information has yet been released on the fate of the young residents, or where they will be rehoused.
This article originally appeared in French in L'Orient-Le Jour.