11 September: At least 29 people have been killed in a devastating fire in Bukavu, a rebel-controlled city in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), with most of the victims reportedly students, local officials said.
The fire broke out at around 8am local time on Thursday in the Chimpunda area of Bukavu and quickly spread to surrounding areas, engulfing two local educational institutions. The blaze triggered panic among large numbers of students, many of whom attempted to escape to safety.
According to a report by UN-run Radio Okapi, the fire spread to Uzima Primary School and Furaha Secondary School. A residential area near the schools was also affected. Local authorities said around 300 houses were destroyed by the blaze. The cause of the fire has not yet been established.
Lawrence Kanyuka, a spokesperson for the AFC/M23 rebel group, said 19 girls and five boys were among those killed. The identities of several other victims could not immediately be confirmed.
Panic broke out among students as the fire spread. As many tried to flee the schools, a stampede occurred, resulting in several deaths, according to local official Patrice Buduge, who spoke to AFP. Students suffering from breathing difficulties were taken to local hospitals for treatment.
Dunia Masumbuko Buenge, deputy governor of South Kivu province, told Reuters that in addition to the two schools, around 300 wooden houses were destroyed by the fire.
Kanyuka said 29 people injured in the incident were admitted to various local medical facilities. Of them, 21 were placed in intensive care. Seventeen critically injured patients were being treated at Kadutu General Hospital, while four others were receiving treatment at Bukavu Provincial General Hospital.
The government based in the capital, Kinshasa, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. In a statement posted on X, the Ministry of National Education and New Citizenship said the death toll had not yet been finalized. It extended condolences to the families of those killed and ordered an assessment of the affected educational institutions to facilitate the resumption of classes as soon as possible.
The incident came shortly after several people were killed in a stampede following a fire at a wedding venue in Kinshasa over the previous weekend. Following the two incidents in quick succession, the government ordered the deployment of special teams across the country to strengthen safety at public gatherings and ensure that security standards are properly enforced.
Source: Al Jazeera