BUKAVU, Democratic Republic of Congo — At least 24 schoolchildren have died after a stampede erupted as pupils tried to flee a fire that engulfed two schools in rebel-held Bukavu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, authorities have said.
The provisional death toll was released on Thursday evening by rebel-appointed authorities, with fears that the number could rise as rescue teams continue assessing the devastation in the densely populated Kadutu commune.
Several adults are also reported to have died in the fire, while dozens of survivors have been taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Children Among Victims
Footage and photographs circulating from the scene showed young children lying on hospital floors, some appearing to be in severe pain after escaping the blaze.
A witness quoted by Reuters said the fire had been extinguished by the afternoon, although smoke was still rising from piles of rubble and corrugated metal.
The cause of the fire remains unknown.
The blaze also destroyed about 300 homes, adding to the scale of the disaster in one of Bukavu’s most densely populated areas.
The number of casualties could increase as authorities search through the affected area and account for those who were inside the schools and surrounding homes when the fire broke out.
Government Confirms School Tragedy
The government in Kinshasa expressed its condolences but did not give a specific casualty figure.
In a statement posted on X, the Ministry of National Education and New Citizenship said it was deeply saddened by the deadly fire.
“With several lives lost and many injured, the toll remains provisional.”
The ministry said the minister had offered condolences to the affected families and expressed solidarity with the victims.
It added that assessments would be carried out at the affected schools to determine the damage and establish measures needed to ensure learning can continue.
Bukavu Under Rebel Control
Bukavu is the capital of South Kivu province and among the Democratic Republic of Congo’s most crowded hillside cities.
The city was captured by M23 rebels in February last year, placing it under the control of the armed group and authorities appointed by the rebels.
The latest tragedy comes amid wider concerns over safety and the ability of local authorities to respond effectively to emergencies in areas affected by prolonged conflict.
Fresh Fire Tragedy
The Bukavu disaster follows another deadly fire-related incident in Kinshasa last weekend, when residents were killed in a stampede at a wedding banquet hall.
Following that incident, the Congolese government ordered stricter safety measures and deployed teams across the country to enforce safety standards at public gathering places.
The two incidents have renewed scrutiny of emergency preparedness, crowd management and safety standards at schools and other public facilities.
For families in Bukavu, however, the immediate priority remains identifying victims, treating survivors and determining how the fire began.
Authorities are expected to provide further details as investigations and assessments continue.
