At least 24 children have been killed and many more injured in a stampede as they attempted to flee a fire ripping through two schools in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Adults are also reported to have been killed, with the death toll expected to rise following the fire in the highly populated Kadutu commune, in Bukavu, eastern DR Congo.
M23 confirms death toll
Lawrence Kanyuka, a spokesperson for the M23 rebel group which controls the city, said 19 girls and five boys were killed, adding that 29 people were being treated at local medical facilities. The fire started at a house before spreading to two adjoining schools and other buildings, said local neighbourhood administrator Moise Lubala, adding that several students were trapped inside Furaha secondary school and some suffocated.
Hundreds of homes destroyed
Around 300 houses have also been destroyed in the fire, with the cause currently unknown. A mix of boys and girls of different ages, students at Furaha and at Ujamaa primary school, were brought to the Nyamulagira BDOM health centre in their school uniforms, said nurse Ciza Jean-Baptiste. Medical staff were struggling to keep track of the exact number of injured because there were so many, he said.
Narrow exit caused stampede
“The exit was too narrow, so some students began jumping through windows while others rushed toward the door. As everyone tried to force their way out, students were pushed over and trampled on,” said Mr Lubala. While the cause of the fire is not known, the neighbourhood where the fire started is densely populated and most houses are made out of wood, according to Mr Lubala.
DR Congo’s government struggles to exert control over the east of the country. M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, took control of Bukavu in February 2025. More than 100 armed groups are vying for control of eastern DR Congo’s trillions of dollars in mineral wealth that is critical for much of the world’s technology.
Health services under strain
Health services are under severe strain as the region grapples with the deadliest Ebola outbreak in history that has killed more than 3,300 people, with more than 6,800 confirmed cases recorded. A statement has been released by the Congo government in Kinshasa which does not specify the numbers of casualties. "The Ministry of National Education and New Citizenship expressed deep sorrow over the deadly fire," it said. "With several lives lost and many injured, the toll remains provisional. The minister offered condolences, affirmed solidarity with families, and ordered assessments of affected schools to ensure learning continuity."
