Tragedy in Eastern DRC: School Fire Stampede Claims Lives of At Least 24 Children in Bukavu

BUKAVU, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO — A catastrophic fire has devastated the city of Bukavu in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, resulting in a horrific stampede that claimed the lives of at least 24 schoolchildren. The inferno swept through two schools and ripped through the surrounding neighborhood, destroying approximately 300 homes and leaving local emergency services overwhelmed.

The tragedy unfolded in the densely populated hillside city—currently held by AFC/M23 rebel forces—while classes were actively in session.

According to eyewitnesses and local officials, the fire broke out near the school facilities before rapidly spreading to the wooden structures. Panic quickly seized the classrooms as smoke filled the hallways.

As hundreds of terrified students attempted to flee simultaneously through narrow exits, a desperate stampede ensued. Witnesses described horrific scenes of young children being trampled or attempting perilous escapes from the upper levels of the building to avoid the oncoming heat and thick smoke.

"We were on the avenue and the children had just gone to school when the fire started," said Pierre Mudahama, a local resident who witnessed the blaze.

The deceased include 19 girls and five boys, according to statements released by local provincial authorities. Several adults and teachers are also reported among the casualties.

Nearby medical facilities were quickly flooded with victims suffering from severe burn injuries and smoke inhalation. Photos from the scene showed overwhelmed hospital staff treating children directly on clinic floors due to a lack of available beds.

At least 29 people remain hospitalized, with more than 20 listed in critical condition or intensive care. Health workers and community leaders warn that the death toll could rise further as search and rescue teams continue to sift through the smoldering ash and twisted metal sheets.

Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, has been operating under heightened political and civil instability since coming under rebel control. The city's tightly packed infrastructure and limited emergency services severely hindered early firefighting efforts, allowing the flames to consume entire blocks of residential housing alongside the educational facilities.

Rebel-appointed leadership and national education officials in Kinshasa have both issued statements offering condolences to the affected families. An official investigation has been launched to determine the precise cause of the initial fire, while aid organizations rush to provide emergency shelter to hundreds of residents left homeless by the blaze.