A fire in Bukavu, eastern Congo, has resulted in the deaths of at least 24 students, according to the rebel administration currently controlling the city. Lawrence Kanyuka, a spokesperson for the M23 rebel group, stated that the victims included 19 girls and five boys. Additionally, 29 people are currently receiving treatment at local medical facilities for injuries sustained during the incident.
The fire originated in a house before spreading to two adjoining schools, according to local neighborhood administrator Moïse Lubala. He noted that several students were trapped inside the Furaha secondary school, with some suffering from suffocation. Nurse Ciza Jean-Baptiste, who works at the Nyamulagira BDOM health center, reported that students from both the Furaha secondary school and the Ujamaa primary school were brought to the facility in their school uniforms. Medical staff are currently struggling to track the exact number of injured due to the high volume of casualties.
Describing the scene, Lubala explained that the exit was too narrow, leading to a crush as students attempted to escape. Some students jumped through windows, while others were pushed over and trampled as they forced their way toward the door. While the cause of the fire remains unknown, Lubala noted that the neighborhood is densely populated and that most houses are constructed from wood, which likely contributed to the rapid spread of the blaze.
The incident occurs as the Congolese government continues to struggle with exerting control over the eastern part of the country. M23 rebels, who are backed by Rwanda, took control of Bukavu in February 2025. The region remains a site of intense competition, with more than 100 armed groups vying for control of mineral wealth critical to global technology. Furthermore, local health services are under severe strain as the region grapples with the deadliest Ebola outbreak in history, which has resulted in more than 3,300 deaths and over 6,800 confirmed cases.
