At least 24 schoolchildren have been killed in a stampede while trying to escape a fire that engulfed two schools in Bukavu, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), officials said.
Several adults are also reported to have died, while dozens of people were injured in the blaze in the densely populated Kadutu commune. Authorities warned that the death toll could rise as rescue and recovery operations continue.
Survivors have been taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. Footage from the scene showed injured children lying on hospital floors as medical workers attended to them.
The fire also destroyed about 300 homes, according to reports. Its cause remains unknown.
Rebel-appointed authorities in Bukavu released a provisional death toll of 24 on Thursday evening, confirming earlier reports of fatalities. However, concerns remain that more victims could be found in the rubble.
Images circulating on social media showed young children lying motionless on the ground, although the circumstances surrounding some of the images could not immediately be independently verified.
A witness quoted by Reuters said the fire had been extinguished by the afternoon, but smoke was still rising from piles of rubble and corrugated metal.
Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, is one of DR Congo’s most densely populated cities. The city was captured by M23 rebels in February last year as the armed group expanded its control across parts of eastern DR Congo.
Meanwhile, the government in Kinshasa expressed grief over the tragedy but did not provide a 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 and confirmed that several people had died while many others were injured.
The ministry said the death toll remained provisional and that the education minister had offered condolences to affected families, expressed solidarity with survivors and ordered assessments of the damaged schools to help ensure that students can continue their education.
The Bukavu tragedy comes days after another deadly incident in Kinshasa, where residents were reportedly killed in a stampede at a wedding banquet hall.
Following that incident, the government ordered tighter safety measures and deployed teams across the country to inspect public gathering venues and enforce safety standards.
