More than 20 children feared dead in DR Congo school fire

What the report says

At least 24 schoolchildren are feared dead after a fire swept through two schools in Bukavu, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to senior local officials cited by BBC Africa. The blaze broke out in the rebel-held city and triggered a stampede as children tried to escape. Authorities also said adults may have died, and they warned the toll could rise further in Kadutu commune, a densely populated part of the city.

BBC Africa reported that survivors were taken to nearby hospitals, while images from the scene showed injured children being treated on hospital floors. The fire also destroyed around 300 homes, and the cause has not yet been established. A witness quoted by Reuters said the fire was out by the afternoon, though smoke continued to rise from the ruins.

Bukavu is the capital of South Kivu province and has been under M23 rebel control since February last year. Rebel-appointed officials said they were assessing the damage and expected to publish a provisional death toll later in the day. In Kinshasa, the national government expressed condolences and said it had ordered assessments of affected schools and measures to support continued learning.

The incident comes after another deadly crowd-related fire tragedy in Kinshasa last weekend, adding to concerns about safety in public places and schools across the country. BBC Africa did not provide a final casualty count, and the situation remained fluid at the time of reporting.