School fire and stampede in DR Congo kills at least 26 students

A catastrophic fire broke out at a school in Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, during the morning hours, setting off a desperate scramble for exits among trapped students.

As flames engulfed the building, panic-stricken students attempted to flee their classrooms simultaneously, leading to a deadly stampede that compounded the tragedy. Emergency responders arrived at the scene to find a humanitarian crisis unfolding, with rescue efforts hampered by the scale of the disaster.

Local authorities confirmed at least 26 deaths from the combined fire and stampede, though officials cautioned that the final death toll may rise as rescue and recovery operations continue. Survivors sustained injuries ranging from burn wounds to trauma injuries sustained during the chaotic evacuation.

The incident has raised renewed concerns about safety standards and emergency preparedness in educational facilities across the region. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire and the circumstances that led to the stampede.