School Fire and Stampede Kill Children in Rebel Held Bukavu

At least 14 to 24 schoolchildren have died following a fire and subsequent stampede at a school in Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The incident occurred on Thursday morning while students were in class. Local officials and witnesses report that the fire led to a panic where students trampled one another or jumped from buildings to escape. The cause of the fire remains unknown, though one source notes the school was constructed from wooden planks.

Reports on the total death toll vary. One source cites a provisional figure of 24 schoolchildren killed, while another reports 14 deaths, all of whom were children under the age of 10. Beyond the student casualties, reports indicate that adults and teachers may have also died. The fire destroyed between 300 and 500 houses in the densely populated area. Survivors and injured individuals were taken to nearby clinics and hospitals, with some arriving in critical condition due to asphyxiation.

Bukavu was captured by M23 rebels in February of last year, and the city is currently under a rebel appointed administration. The government in Kinshasa expressed sorrow over the event and ordered assessments of affected schools. This tragedy follows a similar fatal stampede at a wedding banquet hall in Kinshasa last weekend. Experts suggest such fires are frequent in Congolese cities due to illegal electrical connections and a lack of distance between buildings.