Bukavu school fire kills 26 students as narrow exit triggers deadly crush

A fire spread from a house to two adjoining schools in Bukavu, killing at least 26 students and injuring dozens. The tragedy exposed overcrowding, a narrow escape route and severe strain on the rebel-held city's health services.

In Short

• Provincial officials said 19 girls and seven boys died in the blaze
• Several students were trapped inside Furaha secondary school and some suffocated
• A narrow exit sparked panic as children jumped windows and were trampled

At least 26 students were killed and dozens injured after a fire swept through two adjacent schools in the eastern Congolese city of Bukavu on Thursday, the provincial government said. It said 19 girls and seven boys had died and warned that the toll could rise.

The M23 rebel group, which controls the city, earlier said 24 students had been killed and 29 people were being treated at local medical facilities. The fire began at a house before spreading to the two adjoining schools, according to local neighbourhood administrator Mose Lubala.

Lubala said several students were trapped inside Furaha secondary school and some suffocated. Students from Furaha and Ujamaa primary school, including boys and girls of different ages, were taken to the Nyamulagira BDOM health centre in their school uniforms, nurse Ciza Jean-Baptiste said.

Jean-Baptiste said medical staff were struggling to keep track of the exact number of injured because there were so many. Describing the chaos, Lubala said, "The exit was too narrow, so some students began jumping through windows while others rushed toward the door. As everyone tried to force their way out, students were pushed over and trampled on."

The cause of the fire is not known. Lubala said the neighbourhood where it started is densely populated and most houses there are made of wood.

Congo's government has struggled to exert control over the east of the country. M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, took control of Bukavu in February 2025. More than 100 armed groups are vying for control of eastern Congo's vast mineral wealth, while health services are also under severe strain as the region deals with the deadliest Ebola outbreak in history, which has killed more than 3,300 people and recorded more than 6,800 confirmed cases.

The fire in Bukavu left at least 26 students dead, many others injured and schools and health services overwhelmed, with authorities saying the toll may still rise.

With PTI Inputs

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