A devastating fire that swept through two adjoining schools in the rebel-controlled city of Bukavu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on 10 September 2026 claimed the lives of at least 24 schoolchildren, according to authorities. The majority of the fatalities resulted from a stampede as students attempted to escape the flames. Adults also perished in the blaze, and concerns remain that the final death toll may climb further as investigations continue in the densely populated Kadutu commune.
According to , the M23 rebel administration confirmed that 19 girls and five boys were among those who died. The fire originated in a residential house before spreading to Furaha secondary school and an adjoining educational facility. As reported by the Associated Press, several students became trapped inside Furaha secondary school and suffocated as the flames advanced through the structure.
The scale of the humanitarian crisis extended well beyond the school grounds. According to Africanews, approximately 300 houses were destroyed in the fire, leaving hundreds of families displaced. The rapid spread of the blaze reflected the vulnerability of the city's infrastructure, as many homes in Bukavu are constructed primarily from wood, allowing flames to move swiftly from structure to structure.
Medical facilities in the area were overwhelmed with casualties. One local health centre received 10 bodies, while another hospital admitted more than 50 students, with 14 of those dying from their injuries. Africanews reported that 29 people were injured overall, with several in critical condition. Video footage from the scene showed children lying on hospital floors, many in visible distress from burns and smoke inhalation.
When did the fire break out?
The blaze erupted at approximately 8am local time in the Chimpunda district of Bukavu, according to reporting from Radio Okapi. By afternoon, firefighting efforts had extinguished the main flames, though smoke continued to rise from the charred ruins and twisted corrugated metal sheets that remained at the scene.
What is the cause of the fire?
The cause of the fire remains unknown at this stage. The rebel-appointed authorities have opened an investigation to determine how the blaze started and the circumstances that allowed it to spread so rapidly through the residential area and into the two schools. Neighbourhood administrator Moïse Lubala confirmed that the fire began in a house before advancing to the adjacent school buildings.
How has the government responded?
The government in Kinshasa released a statement acknowledging the tragedy without specifying casualty figures. The Ministry of National Education and New Citizenship expressed deep sorrow over the incident and offered condolences to affected families. Officials ordered comprehensive assessments of the damaged schools to determine how learning could continue for displaced students.
This disaster follows a similar tragedy in Kinshasa the previous weekend, when residents died in a stampede at a wedding banquet hall. In response to that incident, the national government ordered strict safety measures and deployed teams across the country to enforce standards at public gathering places.
What is the context in Bukavu?
Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, is one of the Democratic Republic of Congo's most densely populated hillside cities. The city was captured by M23 rebels in February 2025 and remains under their control. The concentrated population and the prevalence of wooden construction in many neighbourhoods create conditions where fires can spread with devastating speed.
This fire represents the second major school fire incident in Bukavu within days. On 4 September, more than 500 pupils at Uhuru primary school and Institut Fariala were left without classrooms after an earlier fire destroyed their schools in the Cahi neighbourhood, compounding the educational disruption now facing the city's students.
What happens next?
The M23 rebel administration has confirmed that an investigation into the cause and circumstances of the fire is under way. The provisional death toll stands at 24, though authorities have acknowledged that this figure may change as the inquiry progresses and as medical teams continue to treat the injured. The investigation will focus on determining how the fire originated and why evacuation procedures did not prevent the stampede that claimed most of the lives.
Key Facts
- At least 24 schoolchildren died in a stampede while fleeing the fire on 10 September 2026 in Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
- The fire began in a residential house in the Chimpunda district and spread to Furaha secondary school and an adjoining school
- Approximately 300 houses were destroyed, and 29 people were injured, with several in critical condition
- Bukavu is a densely populated city where many structures are built from wood, enabling rapid fire spread
- An investigation into the fire's cause is ongoing under the M23 rebel administration that controls the city
