DR Congo School Fire Kills at Least 20 Children in Bukavu
A devastating fire at a school in Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, led to a stampede killing at least 14 children. The tragedy highlights the perilous conditions in areas under M23 control, where fires are frequent due to dense housing and inadequate infrastructure.
A fire at a primary school in Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), triggered a stampede on Thursday, September 10, killing at least 20 children, according to local and health sources.
The blaze began during school hours at Ujamaa Primary School, forcing pupils to flee through exits as flames spread through the wooden structure, while some reportedly jumped from upper floors in an attempt to escape. Simon Kasamira, a teacher who was receiving treatment at a clinic, said he heard students screaming as parents rushed to the scene searching for their children.
Christophe Zigashane, a nurse at a nearby clinic, said about 50 pupils and several teachers arrived in critical condition, with 10 children already dead and four others dying at the facility. He said the 14 victims were all under 10 years old, while 27 people, including two teachers, were transferred to other hospitals for further treatment.
Local leader Patrice Buduge reported a much higher provisional death toll of 27 and said more than 500 homes had also been destroyed, while the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group, which controls Bukavu, reported 24 deaths, although those figures could not be independently verified by AFP.
The incident highlights the persistent fire risks in Bukavu, where densely packed wooden homes and limited firefighting resources have contributed to repeated deadly blazes. Specialists have also pointed to overcrowding and illegal electricity connections as factors that increase the risk of fires in Congolese cities, with a previous blaze in Bukavu reportedly killing 29 people, mostly children.
The latest tragedy comes shortly after another fire in Kinshasa killed 12 people at a wedding, underscoring the broader challenges facing emergency response and fire safety across the DRC.