At Least 24 Children Killed in School Fire Stampede in Rebel-Held Bukavu, DR Congo

At least 24 schoolchildren have died in a stampede as they tried to flee a fire that engulfed two schools in rebel-held Bukavu in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Adults are also reported to have died in the blaze, and fears persist that the death toll could rise further in the densely populated Kadutu commune.

A City Overwhelmed

Survivors have been taken to nearby hospitals, with footage showing children lying on hospital floors in pain. Some 300 houses have also been destroyed in the fire, whose cause remains unknown. Rebel-appointed authorities released a provisional death toll of 24 on Thursday evening, confirming earlier reports.

Bukavu Under M23 Control

Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province and one of DR Congo's most crowded hillside cities, was captured by M23 rebels in February last year. The rebel-held city has faced ongoing instability since then. Pictures circulating on social media showed young children lying motionless on the ground near the burned schools.

Government Response

A witness told Reuters the fire had been put out by afternoon but smoke was still rising from rubble and corrugated metal at the scene. The government in Kinshasa released a statement on social media without specifying casualty numbers, while expressing concern over the disaster. Aid organisations are reported to be mobilising to assist survivors.