Fire in Congo schools kills 26 students
BUKAVU, Congo — A fire swept through two adjacent schools Thursday in the city of Bukavu in eastern Congo, killing at least 26 students and injuring dozens, the provincial government said, reports BritPanorama.
The South Kivu provincial government stated that the deceased included 19 girls and seven boys, with an alert that the death toll could rise. Emergency services continue to assess the situation as the number of injured is still not fully known.
Lawrence Kanyuka, spokesperson for the rebel M23 group controlling the city, reported earlier that 24 students were confirmed dead and indicated that 29 individuals were receiving treatment at local medical facilities.
According to local neighborhood administrator Moïse Lubala, the fire originated from a house before spreading to the two adjoining schools. He noted that several students were trapped inside Furaha secondary school, resulting in some deaths by suffocation.
A mix of boys and girls at various ages, students from Furaha and Ujamaa primary school, were transported to the Nyamulagira BDOM health center in their school uniforms. Nurse Ciza Jean-Baptiste reported difficulties in keeping track of the injured due to the overwhelming number of victims.
“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,” Lubala said.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, but Lubala indicated that the area where it started is very densely populated, and many houses are constructed of wood, increasing vulnerability to such incidents.
The situation in eastern Congo is complicated. The Congolese government struggles to maintain control, particularly in areas held by M23 rebels, who are supported by Rwanda. Since taking control of Bukavu in February 2025, the rebels have intensified competition over the region’s rich mineral resources, essential for global technology supply chains.
Health services in the region are already under severe strain as they face the deadliest Ebola outbreak in history, which has claimed over 3,300 lives and recorded more than 6,800 confirmed cases. The ongoing challenges only add to the dire circumstances surrounding the recent tragedy.
