Disasters & Incidents
DR Congo school fire kills 26 children, UNICEF says
UNICEF said at least 26 children died and 25 were injured after a fire and stampede at Ujamaa primary school in Bukavu, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The blaze began on Thursday at about 9:00 a.m. while children were in lessons. Simon Kasamira, a teacher at the school, told AFP that pupils screamed, some jumped from upper floors and others ran through doors as parents came looking for their children.
Inspectors from the Congolese education ministry said in a Friday report that the fire caused a stampede and that children who fell were trampled. The report said those trapped inside suffered from asphyxiation and that fires broke out simultaneously at three locations about 500 metres apart.
M23, the Rwanda-backed armed group that has controlled Bukavu since February 2025, declared three days of mourning. The group said the dead were 20 girls and six boys. Funerals are expected to be held on Saturday.
Authorities in Kinshasa and M23 called for an investigation into the cause of the fire. The education ministry report and a local official said the blaze destroyed hundreds of homes.
Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province on Lake Kivu, is known for wooden houses built on hillsides, where deadly fires often break out. Specialists say fires in Congolese cities are often linked to limited firefighting equipment, little spacing between buildings and illegal connections to the power grid.
A fire at a wedding in Kinshasa killed 12 people last week, and a blaze in Bukavu in October killed 14 people, mainly children. Congolese Nobel Peace Prize laureate Denis Mukwege called for urgent humanitarian aid for those affected by the latest disaster.
Update
Congolese education ministry inspectors said students were trampled after falling and that trapped children suffered asphyxiation.
The education ministry report said fires broke out simultaneously at three locations about 500 metres apart.
M23 said the victims were 20 girls and six boys.
The education ministry report and a local official said the fire destroyed hundreds of homes.
Authorities in Kinshasa and M23 called for an investigation into the cause of the blaze.
Denis Mukwege called for urgent humanitarian aid for those affected.
Source note: AFP news report published on 12 September 2026 at 01:45:30 UTC.
Update
M23 declared three days of mourning after the school fire.
Funerals for the victims are expected to be held on Saturday.
UNICEF said the fire began around 9:00 a.m. while children were in lessons.
Specialists cited common causes of fires in Congolese cities, including limited spacing between buildings and illegal power-grid connections.
Source note: AFP news report published on 11 September 2026 at 22:45:10 UTC.
Update
UNICEF said another 25 children were injured in the Bukavu school fire and stampede.
Source note: AFP news report published on 11 September 2026 at 22:27:13 UTC.
Update
UNICEF said the death toll from the DR Congo school fire stampede rose to 26.
Source note: AFP news report published on 11 September 2026 at 22:15:15 UTC.
Update
The Rwanda-backed M23 armed group said 24 people died, including 19 girls and five boys.
M23 said 29 people were receiving treatment in medical facilities.
AFP said it could not independently verify the M23 toll with other official sources.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 19:39:45 UTC.
Update
The school is identified as Ujamaa primary school.
Teacher Simon Kasamira said pupils screamed, jumped from upper floors and ran for doors after the blaze began.
AFP reported that a previous fire in Bukavu in October killed 14 people, mostly children, and that a wedding fire in Kinshasa killed 12 people last week.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 15:59:26 UTC.
Update
A local leader identified the area as Bagira district on Bukavu's northern outskirts and said the blaze began early Thursday while children were in class.
The local leader said the fire's origins were unknown and gave a provisional toll of more than 500 homes burned and 27 deaths.
A nurse said a neighbouring clinic received around 50 students, including several teachers, in critical asphyxia condition.
The nurse said 27 people, including two teachers, were transferred in critical condition to other hospitals.
An AFP correspondent saw large columns of smoke and a wide area of charred houses and debris at midday.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 15:05:34 UTC.
Update
The deaths followed a stampede after a fire broke out at a school in Bukavu.
A local leader gave a higher provisional toll of 27 deaths and more than 500 homes burned.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 14:42:33 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The cause of the fire has not been determined.
The report of simultaneous fires at three locations has not been explained.
Casualty and damage figures are attributed to UNICEF, M23, the education ministry report and a local official.
Source
AFP news report published on .