Hundreds of people gathered on Monday at a mass funeral in eastern Congo to honor the 27 young victims of a devastating fire that struck the city of Bukavu last week. The tragedy, which unfolded when a blaze originating in a nearby house spread to two adjacent schools, triggered a chaotic stampede as students attempted to escape the burning structures. Local authorities confirmed that at least 27 students lost their lives, with many others suffering injuries as they were trapped inside the Furaha secondary school. Some of the victims ultimately succumbed to smoke inhalation.
Local neighborhood administrator Moïse Lubala noted that the precise number of injured individuals has been difficult to track due to the high volume of casualties. The area remains densely populated, characterized by a concentration of wooden houses that likely contributed to the rapid spread of the flames. While the official cause of the fire has not yet been determined, the event has left the community in profound grief.
Among those mourning was Annunciat Kujirabwinja Zagabe, who came to the funeral to pay her final respects to her 13-year-old grandson, Tuonane Machara wa Kidogo. Recalling her final conversation with him, she expressed deep distress over his sudden death, noting that he had been performing well in his studies and had successfully reached the eighth grade without failure. “He left home for school and simply died. It is horrific,” she said.
Teacher Alice Ambika Musafiri, who was present at the scene during the fire, wept as she recounted the harrowing moments when students called for help. She recalled hearing children crying, “Ma’am, I’m being trampled!” despite her attempts to assist them, the density of the crowd made it impossible to reach everyone, leading to further suffocation among the students.
The tragedy occurs against a backdrop of significant instability in the region. Since February 2025, Bukavu has been under the control of M23 rebels, as the Congolese government continues to struggle with maintaining authority in the east. The region is further strained by the ongoing impact of the deadliest Ebola outbreak in history, which has resulted in over 6,800 confirmed cases and more than 3,300 deaths.
Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) coalition—which includes the M23—attended the funeral and pledged to implement measures to prevent future school fires. “It is true that many things happen here on earth by God’s will, for we are all pilgrims here; yet, many things also stem from idleness and our own human errors,” Nangaa stated, calling on the residents of Bukavu and the DRC to take collective action to limit future damage.
Medical staff were struggling to keep track of the exact number of injured because there were so many, he said.
“My child, I can’t reach you,” she yelled back. “Wait until I get the one I have now out first.”
