Fire Kills 14 in Bukavu’s Funu Neighborhood Amid Rebel-Controlled Crisis

A fire in Bukavu’s Funu neighborhood killed 14 people, mostly women and children, after flames swept through poorly built homes. Red Cross teams recovered bodies as residents mourned. The city, under AFC-M23 rebel control since February 2025, faces worsening safety and weak emergency response.

A devastating fire broke out late at night in Bukavu’s working-class Funu neighborhood, claiming the lives of 14 people from two families and plunging the community into mourning. The tragedy unfolded around midnight when flames rapidly spread through a cluster of tightly packed houses made of wood and other flammable materials. By dawn, the area was reduced to smoldering ruins, with the acrid smell of burnt debris hanging over the hillside community.

On Monday morning, Red Cross volunteers and local residents worked side by side, carefully searching through the wreckage to recover the victims’ remains. The grim task was carried out in silence, broken only by the sound of shovels and quiet sobs from those who had lost loved ones. Many survivors gathered in disbelief as they watched their homes and possessions reduced to ashes.

“I heard noises, woke up, and spotted the fire,” said survivor Patrick Gedeon, who managed to escape the flames. “When I returned, everything was gone. Fourteen of my neighbors were dead.” His account reflects the speed and ferocity with which the fire spread, leaving little time for escape.

Another resident, Olivier Bangalwa, described the moment panic took over as the blaze consumed the building’s only exit. “When I saw the staircase engulfed in flames, those on the upper floors could no longer flee,” he said. According to witnesses, many of the victims were women and children who were unable to escape in time.

The fire exposed once again the serious safety challenges in Bukavu, a city known for its rapid and largely unregulated urban growth. Many neighborhoods, especially those in poorer areas, are built on steep terrain with houses packed closely together and powered by improvised electrical connections. These conditions, combined with a lack of emergency infrastructure and limited access for firefighters, make the city especially vulnerable to fires and other disasters.

Compounding the tragedy is Bukavu’s ongoing political and security crisis. Since February 2025, the city has been under the control of AFC-M23 rebels, following months of fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The presence of the armed group has disrupted public services, including firefighting and medical response systems, leaving residents even more exposed to emergencies like this one.

In the aftermath of the disaster, rebel authorities pledged to provide dignified burials for the victims, a gesture welcomed by some but met with skepticism by others who question their capacity to offer meaningful assistance. “We have nothing remaining,” said local resident Ngwabuluka Jean, speaking for many who lost their homes and possessions. “We need help from the government. The people here can’t rebuild on their own.”

Community leaders and humanitarian groups have called for urgent intervention to support the survivors and to address the city’s recurring safety hazards. They say the fire is a tragic reminder of the need for stronger building regulations, safer electrical systems, and emergency preparedness — measures that have long been neglected amid Bukavu’s political instability.

As families prepare to bury their loved ones, the people of Funu face the difficult task of rebuilding their lives from the ashes. For many, the fire has not only taken homes and relatives but also deepened the sense of abandonment in a city where conflict, poverty, and poor infrastructure continue to define daily life.