More than 20 children feared dead in DR Congo school fire

At least 24 schoolchildren are feared dead after a stampede during a fire that engulfed two schools in rebel‑held Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a senior official said. Adults also reportedly died in the blaze, and officials fear the death toll could rise further in the densely populated Kadutu commune. Survivors have been taken to nearby hospitals; footage shows children lying on hospital floors in pain. Approximately 300 houses have also been destroyed in the fire, whose cause remains unknown. Images circulating on social media depict young children lying motionless on the ground. A witness quoted by Reuters said the fire had been extinguished by daylight, but smoke continued to rise from the rubble and corrugated metal. Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province and one of the DR Congo’s most crowded hillside cities, fell to M23 rebels in February last year. Rebel‑appointed authorities said they are assessing the damage and will release a provisional death toll this evening. Meanwhile, the government in Kinshasa issued a statement on X, without specifying casualty numbers. "The Ministry of National Education and New Citizenship expressed heavy sorrow implicit the deadly fire," it said. "With respective lives mislaid and galore injured, the toll remains provisional. The curate offered condolences, affirmed solidarity with families, and ordered assessments of affected schools to guarantee learning continuity." The incident follows a similar tragedy in Kinshasa last weekend, when residents died in a stampede at a wedding banquet hall. In response, authorities have ordered strict safety measures and deployed teams nationwide to enforce standards at public gathering places.