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The public prosecutor at the Hussein Dey court referred 14 people before the investigating judge this Wednesday, following the death of 5 children by drowning at Sablettes beach, in Algiers.
The defendants are facing criminal charges related to negligent manslaughter. The details of the incident date back to May 11 when 5 children died by drowning at Sablettes beach. According to initial reports, the children were playing on the beach when a strong wave swept them out to sea.
As a reminder, seven people were arrested on May 13 and placed in police custody. Just after the tragedy, which left the entire country in mourning, the public prosecutor at the court of Hussein Dey ordered the immediate opening of an in-depth investigation.
The investigation was ordered to shed light on the conditions for organizing two excursions, in particular with regard to compliance with regulations and the protection of children. It also aims to identify the responsibilities of all stakeholders involved in this incident.
Among those arrested as part of this investigation are officials from the youth center in the commune of Ain Boucif and officials from the El Mordjane association in Médéa. The condition of the two rescued children, who are currently at Mustapha-Bacha hospital, has significantly improved. They will be able to return to their homes in the coming days.
Around 70 children from Médéa took to the road to spend a beautiful day in the capital. They visited the martyrs’ monument, the Jardin d’Essais du Hamma and then went to the Sablettes promenade to admire the Great Mosque of Algiers and the adjacent park. The schoolchildren then went to the beach to cool off at the request of the chaperones, according to statements from some children present on site.
This tragedy sparked a wave of emotion and solidarity from Algerians, who relayed this information on social networks, accompanied by their condolences and compassion towards the bereaved families.
For its part, Civil Protection called on parents and adults accompanying children to be more vigilant. They raise awareness of the dangers of swimming in unsupervised and unsecured beaches outside the summer season, but also in bodies of water.