Congo School Fire Tragedy | Students Escape Wooden Building Blaze

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

At least 26 students were killed in a fire in the eastern Congolese city of Bukavu on Thursday, local authorities said. The victims included 19 girls and seven boys, while 29 others are receiving treatment for injuries.

According to officials, the blaze initially broke out in a nearby house before spreading to Furaha Secondary School and Ujamaa Primary School. Several students became trapped inside Furaha Secondary School, with some reportedly dying from suffocation.

The affected area is under the control of the Rwanda-backed AFC/M23 rebel group, which launched an offensive in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in February 2025. Authorities warned that the death toll could rise further as rescue and recovery efforts continue.

Pictures after the incident…

Most of the houses in the area of Bukavu where the accident occurred are made of wood. This caused the fire to spread rapidly.

Reports have emerged that 300 houses were destroyed by fire in this rebel-controlled area.

The children injured in the fire were taken to the hospital by the people nearby.

Photos going viral on social media show small children lying unconscious on the ground.

Children trapped inside the school, exit was narrow

According to Lubala, the way out of the school was very narrow. Some students began jumping out of the windows, while others ran toward the door. As everyone tried to get out at the same time, several students fell and people trampled over them.

The cause of the fire is not yet known. According to Lubala, the area where the fire started is densely populated.

Why does conflict occur in eastern Congo?

This region is very rich in minerals. Minerals needed to manufacture mobile phones, electronics, and other technological products are found in eastern Congo.

For this reason, conflict has continued among various armed groups over control of the region’s mineral resources and trade routes. According to the AP, more than 100 armed groups are active in eastern Congo.

A fire also broke out at a wedding ceremony 5 days ago

Just five days ago, at least 22 people died when a building caught fire during a wedding ceremony in Kinshasa, the capital of Congo. The situation worsened as a large number of people gathered in the building’s narrow passages and alleys. People kept trying to get out while pushing one another.