At least 24 schoolchildren died in a stampede as they fled a fire that engulfed two schools in rebel‑held Bukavu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, authorities confirmed.
Adults also perished, with fears that the death toll could rise further amid chaos in the densely populated Kadutu commune.
Survivors were rushed to nearby hospitals; footage shows children on hospital beds in pain, and social media videos depict motionless children on the ground.
The blaze destroyed some 300 houses, but its cause remains unknown.
Rebel‑appointed local authorities released a provisional death tally of 24 on Thursday, but they cautioned that the figure might rise.
The city of Bukavu – a hillside, crowded capital of South Kivu province – fell under M23 rebel control in February last year.
The Kinshasa government released a statement on X, expressing sorrow over the deadly fire and promising assessment of affected schools to protect learning continuity.
This tragedy follows a similar fire in Kinshasa last weekend, where a stampede at a wedding banquet hall claimed lives.
In response to the series of incidents, the national government has tightened safety regulations, deploying teams nationwide to enforce standards at public gathering places.
We continue to monitor the situation and will provide updates as new information emerges.
