A fire at two schools in Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, resulted in the deaths of at least 24 schoolchildren, according to rebel-appointed authorities in the region. The disaster occurred as students attempted to evacuate the burning buildings, with many perishing in a stampede. Adults were also reported among the casualties, and concerns remain that the final toll could increase as rescue efforts continue.
The densely populated Kadutu commune was heavily impacted by the incident. Approximately 300 houses were destroyed in the fire, and the cause remains under investigation. Medical personnel transported survivors to nearby hospitals, where footage documented injured children receiving treatment on hospital floors. Emergency response teams were dispatched to assist those affected by the disaster.
Bukavu, which was captured by M23 rebels earlier, became the site of this tragedy. The national government in Kinshasa released a statement acknowledging the incident through its Ministry of National Education and New Citizenship, expressing condolences to affected families and pledging to conduct assessments of the impacted schools to maintain educational continuity. The government ordered a safety review of schools in the aftermath.
This fire follows another similar tragedy in Kinshasa, where residents died in a stampede at a wedding banquet hall earlier in the week. In response to both incidents, the government announced strict safety measures and deployed enforcement teams nationwide to ensure compliance with safety standards at public gathering places.
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