Dozens of Children Killed in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo School Fire and Stampede
Goma, 11 September 2026
On 10 September 2026, a devastating fire and subsequent stampede at schools in rebel-held Bukavu killed at least 24 children, highlighting severe safety issues in densely populated areas.
Chaos and Casualty Discrepancies in Tshimpunda
The fire broke out at approximately 08:00 local time (06:00 GMT) on Thursday, 10 September 2026, in the Tshimpunda neighbourhood of Bukavu [3][5]. It rapidly engulfed local academic institutions, including Ujamaa Primary School and Furaha Secondary School, before tearing through surrounding residential zones [3][5]. However, there is some local confusion regarding the specific properties affected, as state-run news agency ACP also reported damage to EP Mosala in the Bagira commune and EP Nongo in Kadutu [6][alert! ‘contradictory school names in official reports’]. Built largely of wooden planks, the school buildings and roughly 300 nearby homes offered highly flammable fuel for the rapidly spreading blaze [2][3].
The Fatal Stampede and Emergency Response
As the flames spread, panic erupted inside the classrooms. Students began screaming, with some jumping from upper floors while others jammed the exit doors [2]. This triggered a violent stampede where children trampled over one another, causing many to faint or lose consciousness [2][3]. Christophe Zigashane, a nurse at a neighbouring clinic, confirmed that his facility received about 50 students and teachers in a critical state of asphyxia [2]. He reported that 14 children, all under the age of 10, died either at the scene or shortly after arrival [2]. Other victims were transferred to larger facilities; 17 critically injured individuals were taken to Kadutu General Hospital, and 12 were admitted to the Bukavu Provincial General Reference Hospital [3][6].
Conflicting Tolls and Regional Political Strain
As is common in conflict-affected zones, official casualty figures remain provisional and highly contested. The rebel-appointed authorities of the AFC/M23 movement, who have controlled Bukavu since capturing the South Kivu provincial capital in February 2025, initially released a death toll of 24, consisting of 19 girls and 5 boys [1][2][3]. However, local administrative leader Patrice Buduge estimated the death toll at 27 children [2], a figure supported by hospital and school sources who recorded 27 child fatalities, comprising 19 girls and 8 boys [6]. Some international reports have indicated that the total number of deceased could be as high as 29 [3].
Impact on Displaced Communities and Urban Vulnerability
For Congolese refugees residing in regional settlements like Kakuma and Kalobeyei in Kenya, who fled years of violence in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, this tragedy brings fresh grief for their homeland [GPT]. The disaster highlights the severe lack of safety and civil infrastructure in rebel-administered territories [GPT]. Local urban planning specialists attribute the frequency of such fires in Bukavu’s crowded hillside communities to closely packed wooden housing, a lack of municipal firefighting equipment, and illegal connections to the power grid [2]. Within the last month alone, Bukavu has registered 18 separate fire incidents resulting in over 50 fatalities [6], averaging approximately 2.778 deaths per incident, illustrating a systemic safety crisis that both local and national authorities have failed to contain [2].