Fire Sweeps Through Two DR Congo Schools, Leaving Dozens of Children Dead

BUKAVU, DR Congo — At least 26 schoolchildren have died after a fire tore through two neighbouring schools in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, sparking panic and a deadly stampede as students desperately tried to escape the burning buildings.

The tragedy unfolded on Thursday morning in Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu Province, where the blaze spread rapidly from a nearby residential building into Furaha Secondary School and Ujamaa Primary School. Local authorities said the victims included 19 girls and seven boys, while dozens of other children sustained burns, fractures and smoke inhalation injuries.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as thick smoke engulfed classrooms shortly after lessons began. With limited exits and narrow corridors, many pupils were trapped inside while others jumped from windows in a desperate attempt to survive. Several children were reportedly trampled during the rush to escape, turning the fire into a dual tragedy of flames and stampede.

Hospitals across Bukavu were quickly overwhelmed by the influx of injured students. Medical workers said more than 50 children were admitted to local health facilities, while emergency responders continued searching damaged buildings amid fears that additional victims could still be found beneath the rubble.

Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the fire. The AFC/M23 administration, which controls Bukavu after the city fell to the Rwanda-backed rebel movement, said an investigation has been launched to establish how the blaze started and whether safety failures contributed to the high death toll.

The disaster comes against the backdrop of prolonged instability in eastern DR Congo, where years of conflict have weakened public infrastructure and emergency response capacity. Bukavu has remained under rebel control since early 2025, leaving many public services, including healthcare and education, under immense strain.

The fire also destroyed around 300 homes in the densely populated neighbourhood, leaving hundreds of families displaced and compounding the humanitarian crisis in South Kivu. Residents spent hours battling the flames alongside emergency crews as smoke continued rising from collapsed wooden structures long after the fire had been contained.

For a region already burdened by armed conflict, displacement and disease outbreaks, the loss of so many children in a place of learning has deepened national grief. Beyond the immediate investigation, the tragedy has renewed urgent questions about school safety, urban planning and the protection of children in communities where fragile infrastructure can turn a single fire into a catastrophe.