Bukavu, South Kivu Province, DR Congo — Friday, September 11, 2026
At least 24 schoolchildren have died in a stampede as they tried to flee a fire that engulfed two schools in the rebel-held city of Bukavu in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, authorities have confirmed.
The blaze broke out in the Chimpunda neighbourhood of Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, before spreading to Ujamaa primary school, Furaha secondary school, and a nearby settlement. Local officials reported that the fire began at approximately 8:00 a.m. local time while children were in their morning lessons.
According to reports from the scene, the fire triggered a violent stampede as students attempted to escape the flames. Local official Patrice Buduge told AFP that students were forced to “trample over one another or look for a dangerous way out; many of them fainted, and others lost consciousness”. A nurse at a local clinic stated that his facility received around 50 students, including several teachers, in a critical state of asphyxia.
The death toll has fluctuated as authorities continue to search the debris. The AFC/M23 rebel movement, which has controlled Bukavu since February 2025, initially reported 24 dead, including 19 girls and five boys, with 29 people receiving treatment in medical facilities. The South Kivu provincial government later gave a provisional toll of at least 26 children, including 19 girls and 7 boys. Some reports have since placed the figure as high as 29.
In addition to the schools, approximately 300 wooden homes were destroyed in the blaze. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and local media have noted that the death toll remains provisional.
The tragedy has drawn responses from both the rebel administration and the national government in Kinshasa. The AFC/M23 said emergency teams were deployed and managed to contain the fire, and called for calm while investigations continue. The South Kivu provincial government, however, criticised the rebels for their “inaction” and “insufficiency” in responding to the disaster, and called for an impartial inquiry to determine responsibility and the exact origin of the fire.
The Ministry of National Education and New Citizenship in Kinshasa expressed “deep sorrow” over the incident. “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,” a statement said.
The Bukavu fire follows a similar tragedy in Kinshasa last weekend, where residents died in a stampede at a wedding banquet hall. In response, the national government has ordered strict safety measures and deployed teams nationwide to enforce standards at public gathering places. Congolese media also noted that Bukavu has experienced several fires in recent days, including a blaze last Sunday that destroyed more than 45 houses.