At least 24 schoolchildren died in a stampede while fleeing a fire that erupted in two schools in the Kadutu commune of Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, officials said. The blaze also claimed adult lives, and authorities fear the death toll could rise as the densely populated area continues to suffer.
Survivors were rushed to nearby hospitals, where footage shows children lying on beds in pain. Roughly 300 houses were also destroyed, though the cause of the fire remains unknown.
Rebel‑appointed authorities released a provisional death toll of 24 on Thursday evening, confirming earlier reports. A witness quoted by Reuters said the fire was extinguished by afternoon, yet smoke still rose from rubble and corrugated metal.
Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province and one of the country’s most crowded hillside cities, fell under M23 rebel control in February last year. The government in Kinshasa issued a statement on X, offering condolences and promising assessments of affected schools to ensure learning continuity, while also ordering strict safety measures nationwide.
The tragedy follows a similar fire in Kinshasa last weekend, where a stampede at a wedding banquet hall caused deaths. The government’s response includes deploying teams nationwide to enforce safety standards at public gathering places.
