A devastating fire in the rebel-held city of Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has claimed the lives of at least 29 children. The blaze broke out on Thursday morning and destroyed two schools and hundreds of wooden homes.
The fire reportedly started in a densely populated neighbourhood before spreading to the Ujamaa primary and Furaha secondary schools. Panic ensued as students tried to escape through narrow exits with leading to a fatal stampede. Local officials and medical staff confirmed that many victims were trampled and the others died from asphyxiation.
According to the AFC/M23 rebel group currently controls the city and the UN-operated Radio Okapi confirmed dead include at least 19 girls. Dozens more students and teachers are receiving critical care for severe burns and smoke inhalation at local hospitals. Nurses at the scene reported that medical staff are struggling to keep track of the sheer volume of patients. Officials estimate that roughly 300 homes in the Chimpunda neighbourhood were reduced to ashes.
The tragedy strikes a region already overwhelmed by compounding crises. The mineral-rich city of Bukavu was seized by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in February 2025, leaving the area outside the central government's control.
Furthermore the local health facilities were already buckling under the strain of the region's deadliest Ebola outbreak has claimed over 3,300 lives. This ongoing health crisis is severely complicating the emergency response to Thursday’s catastrophic fire. Authorities are still investigating the exact cause of the blaze.
