🇨🇩 26 Children Killed, 25 Injured in DR Congo School Fire and Stampede

At least 26 children have died, and another 25 were injured after a fire triggered a stampede at a school in Bukavu, South Kivu Province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to UNICEF. citeturn0search10 The fire broke out on Thursday morning while students were in class. As the blaze spread, pupils reportedly rushed to escape, with some jumping from upper floors. Congolese education inspectors said some children were trampled during the stampede, while others trapped inside died from asphyxiation. The disaster occurred in Kadutu, a densely populated area of Bukavu, where fires are relatively common because of tightly packed buildings and limited firefighting infrastructure. Authorities have called for an investigation into the cause of the blaze. The M23 administration in Bukavu declared three days of mourning, while funerals for the victims were expected to take place on Saturday. The tragedy has generated widespread grief across the country. SOURCE:https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/09/dr-congo-school-fire-stampede-death-toll-rises-to-26-unicef