Bukavu bids farewell to 27 schoolchildren killed in fire
In the city of Bukavu in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, hundreds of people gathered for a joint farewell ceremony for 27 schoolchildren who died in a fire that engulfed two schools. The families of the deceased, teachers and officials honored the children's memory, TimesLIVE reports, citing the Associated Press.
Fire and stampede
The fire broke out on Thursday and spread to two neighboring schools. According to local authorities, a stampede occurred as students tried to leave the buildings. At least 27 schoolchildren were killed, while dozens more were injured.
District administrator Moise Lubala said the fire began in a residential building and later spread to two nearby schools. Several students were trapped inside Furaha Secondary School, and some children suffocated.
The cause of the fire has not yet been established. According to Lubala, the area is densely built up with wooden houses, and medics found it difficult to determine the exact number of injured people because of the large number of victims.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Accounts from relatives and teachers
Annunciate Kujirabwindja Zagabe came to the ceremony to say goodbye to her 13-year-old grandson, Tuonane Machara wa Kidogo. She said the boy studied well and had never repeated a grade through eighth grade.
Teacher Alice Ambika Musafiri tearfully recalled the cries of children asking for help and saying they were being trampled. She said she tried to lead students out but could not save everyone.
Corneille Nangaa, leader of the political-military coalition Congo River Alliance, which includes the M23 group, promised at the funeral to take measures to protect schoolchildren from fires in the future. M23 rebels have controlled Bukavu since February 2025.
