Omanghana
At least 26 children have died and 25 others sustained injuries after a fire triggered a stampede at a primary school in Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The disaster occurred at Ujamaa Primary School in the densely populated Kadutu district of South Kivu province. The school building was constructed mainly with wooden planks, making it highly vulnerable to the rapidly spreading flames.
The fire reportedly began while classes were in progress. As smoke and flames engulfed the structure, frightened pupils rushed to escape, resulting in a deadly stampede.
Some children jumped from windows on the upper floor, while others fell during the rush and were either trampled or overcome by smoke.
UNICEF confirmed that 26 children, comprising 20 girls and six boys, lost their lives. At least 25 other pupils were injured and received medical treatment.
An Education Ministry report indicated that fires were recorded at three separate locations situated about 500 metres apart. The flames spread into nearby residential communities, destroying more than 500 wooden homes and leaving many families displaced.
Bukavu’s steep terrain and densely packed neighbourhoods make emergency response operations particularly difficult. Many structures are built with combustible materials, while narrow roads and limited access routes often prevent emergency teams from reaching affected areas quickly.
Fire disasters are common in several cities across the DRC because of inadequate urban planning, illegal electricity connections and limited municipal firefighting services.
The incident occurred amid continuing political and security instability in Bukavu, which has been under the control of the M23 armed group since early 2025.
Officials linked to the M23 administration and the DRC government in Kinshasa have called for investigations to determine the cause of the fire and establish whether the separate outbreaks were connected.
Source: Omanghana
