A fire broke out in a community in an eastern city of DR Congo, spreading to two schools. Officials estimate that more than 20 children may have died.
On Thursday, 10 Sep 2026 GMT+7, a fire erupted in the Kadutu district of Bukavu city, which is controlled by an anti-government faction. The fire destroyed over 300 houses and spread to two schools, causing chaos as people crowded and stampeded while trying to flee. Officials estimate up to 24 children may have died.
Additionally, reports indicate adults also died in the fire, and the death toll may rise further. Many survivors were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Eyewitnesses told Reuters the fire subsided in the afternoon, but smoke still rose from the debris and corrugated metal sheets. The exact cause of the fire has not yet been disclosed.
Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, is one of the most densely populated hillside cities in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The city has been under control of the M23 rebel group since February last year. Authorities appointed by the rebels said they are urgently assessing the situation and will soon release preliminary death toll figures.
Meanwhile, the central government in Kinshasa issued a statement on platform X expressing condolences over the fire. It ordered an assessment of the damage to affected schools to facilitate the resumption of education.
This recent tragedy resembles a wedding hall fire in Kinshasa over the weekend, which caused multiple deaths due to crowd stampedes during evacuation. The government has since imposed strict safety measures and deployed officers nationwide to enforce public gathering safety standards.
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Source:bbc