In brief
A blaze that erupted in two schools in the rebel‑controlled city of Bukavu in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has left at least 24 children dead and many injured, according to local officials. The fire was reported to have been extinguished by afternoon, yet smoke still lingers in the rubble. Officials warn the death count could rise as more bodies are found, and the blaze destroyed around 300 houses. Government officials in Kinshasa have issued statements expressing sorrow while calling for continued safety measures amid the ongoing regional conflict. Survivors have been treated at nearby hospitals, with footage showing children suffering in pain after the incident.
A fire that erupted in two schools in the rebel‑controlled city of Bukavu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has left at least 24 children dead, according to local officials, with the death toll possibly rising as more bodies are uncovered.
Rebel‑appointed authorities confirmed the figure on Thursday evening, marking the tragedy as the most severe in the densely populated Kadutu commune. Initial reports indicated that adults also perished, with the fire destroying around 300 nearby houses.
Survivors were rushed to nearby hospitals, where footage shows dozens of children lying on hospital floors in pain. A witness quoted by Reuters said the blaze had been put out by afternoon, yet smoke still rose from the rubble and corrugated metal.
Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, fell under the control of the M23 rebel group in February last year, heightening tensions in the region. The government in Kinshasa issued a statement on X, expressing deep sorrow over the losses but refrained from providing updated casualty figures.
"The Ministry of National Education and New Citizenship expressed deep sorrow over the deadly fire," the statement read. "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.
The incident follows a similar fire at a wedding banquet hall in Kinshasa last weekend, which also claimed lives during a stampede. In response, the national government has tightened safety protocols and deployed teams nationwide to enforce standards at public gathering places.
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