World
Fire and Stampede at Rebel-Held DR Congo Schools Kill Over 24 Children
By Today News Hours Editorial Desk
At least 24 schoolchildren have died in a stampede while attempting to escape a fire that swept through two schools in the rebel-controlled city of Bukavu, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to local officials. Adults are also reported among the dead, and authorities fear the death toll may rise further in the densely populated Kadutu commune. Survivors have been transported to nearby hospitals, with footage showing injured children lying on hospital floors. The blaze also destroyed approximately 300 houses in the area. The cause of the fire remains unknown. Rebel-appointed authorities issued a provisional death toll of 24 on Thursday evening, confirming earlier reports, though officials warn the number of fatalities could increase. Images circulating on social media depict young children lying motionless on the ground. A witness told Reuters news agency that the fire had been extinguished by the afternoon, though smoke continued to rise from debris and charred metal. Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, is among DR Congo's most densely populated hillside cities and was seized by M23 rebels in February of last year. Separately, the government in Kinshasa issued a statement on social media platform X without specifying casualty figures. The Ministry of National Education and New Citizenship expressed deep sorrow over the incident, noting that with several lives lost and many injured, the toll remained provisional. The minister offered condolences, expressed solidarity with affected families, and ordered assessments of the damaged schools to ensure continuity of education. This tragedy follows a similar fire in Kinshasa the previous weekend, in which residents died in a stampede at a wedding banquet hall. In response to that earlier incident, the government had ordered stricter safety measures and deployed teams across the country to enforce standards at public gathering venues.