At Least 20 Killed As Fire Triggers Stampede At Schools In Eastern Congo

At least 20 people have died after a fire swept through homes and two primary schools in Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, triggering a deadly stampede among students. Local officials gave a higher provisional figure of 24 deaths, including 19 girls and five boys, while medical workers said at least 14 children were among those killed. About 300 to 500 homes and a clinic were also reportedly destroyed. The cause of the fire remains unknown as authorities continue investigations.

DEADLY FIRE SPREADS THROUGH BUKAVU COMMUNITY

At least 20 people have been killed after a fire swept through part of Bukavu, a city in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), triggering a deadly stampede among students.
The fire broke out on Thursday morning in the Chimpunda district of Bukavu, the provincial capital of South Kivu.
Local authorities and medical workers said several people were also injured, with some victims suffering from smoke inhalation and other serious injuries.
The exact death toll remained unclear as emergency workers continued treating victims and authorities assessed the damage.

STUDENTS TRAPPED AS FIRE REACHES SCHOOLS

The fire reportedly began at about 8am local time and spread through houses and other buildings near Ujamaa and Furaha primary schools.
As flames and smoke reached the schools, students reportedly panicked and attempted to escape.
Local leader Patrice Buduge told AFP that the fire was followed by a violent stampede in which students trampled one another while trying to flee.
Some children reportedly fainted or lost consciousness because of smoke and the panic surrounding the evacuation.
The situation became particularly dangerous as students tried to find alternative routes out of the affected area.

CONFLICTING DEATH TOLL FIGURES

Different authorities have provided varying casualty figures.
UN-backed Radio Okapi, citing local authorities, reported that 20 people had died, while the number of injured remained unspecified.
However, Dunia Masumbuko Bwenge, an official in the rebel administration controlling South Kivu, told Reuters that 24 people had died — 19 girls and five boys — while 29 others were injured.
Medical workers also reported a significant number of children among the victims.
The figures remain provisional and could change as authorities complete their assessment.

MANY CHILDREN AMONG THE VICTIMS

Christophe Zigashane, a nurse at a local clinic, said medical workers received about 50 students and teachers in critical condition after the fire.
He said many were suffering from severe smoke inhalation and asphyxia.
According to Zigashane, 14 children under the age of 10 had died at the clinic or at the scene.
The reports have highlighted the particularly heavy impact of the disaster on young children who were inside the schools when the fire spread.

HUNDREDS OF HOMES DESTROYED

The fire was not confined to the school area.
Footage verified by Al Jazeera showed flames consuming several houses as the blaze spread towards the schools.
Local media reported that between 300 and 500 homes were destroyed, along with a clinic.
The scale of the destruction has left many residents without homes and increased pressure on local medical and emergency services.
Several people were treated for smoke inhalation, with some reportedly remaining in critical condition.

CAUSE OF FIRE REMAINS UNKNOWN

Authorities have not yet established what caused the fire.
Investigators are expected to examine where the blaze began and how it spread so quickly through the densely populated area.
They will also need to determine whether any factors contributed to the difficulty residents and students faced while trying to escape.
Until an investigation is completed, there is no confirmed explanation for the cause of the disaster.

BUKAVU HAS EXPERIENCED RECENT FIRES

The latest incident comes after a series of fires reported in Bukavu in recent days.
Local media said another fire broke out on Sunday and destroyed more than 45 houses.
The repeated incidents have raised concerns about fire safety and the vulnerability of densely populated communities in the city.
For residents who have already endured years of conflict and displacement, the destruction caused by fires adds another layer of hardship.

BUKAVU UNDER AFC/M23 CONTROL

The disaster occurred in a city currently controlled by the AFC/M23 rebel movement, which seized Bukavu during a major offensive in eastern DRC last year.
The conflict involving the M23 and the Congolese government has displaced large numbers of people and created a complicated humanitarian situation across eastern Congo.
The rebel administration currently exercises control over parts of South Kivu, including Bukavu, while the wider conflict continues to generate international concern.

RESCUE AND MEDICAL EFFORTS CONTINUE

Medical workers have been treating victims of smoke inhalation and injuries, while local authorities assess the destruction.
With hundreds of homes reportedly destroyed, affected families are also likely to need emergency shelter, food and other humanitarian assistance.
The search for additional victims and assessment of the affected neighbourhood are expected to continue.

FAMILIES LEFT WAITING FOR ANSWERS

For families in Bukavu, the immediate concern is identifying victims and learning the fate of relatives who may have been caught in the fire or stampede.
The deaths of children have made the tragedy particularly painful for the affected communities.
As officials work to establish the final casualty figures and determine the cause of the blaze, residents are also facing the difficult task of rebuilding homes and lives destroyed by the fire.