At least 26 children have died and 25 others were injured after a devastating fire and subsequent stampede swept through a primary school complex in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday.
​The disaster unfolded around 9:00 AM local time, on Thursday, September 10, 2026, while pupils were attending morning classes at the Ujamaa primary school in the Cimpunda neighborhood of the Kadutu commune in Bukavu.
The rapid spread of the blaze triggered immediate panic, with students attempting to escape through narrow exits or leaping from upper-floor windows to avoid the flames.
​The primary school, built primarily of wooden planks, was quickly engulfed by the fire. According to reports from the Congolese education ministry, the blaze caused severe smoke inhalation and sparked a chaotic stampede as children tumbled over one another in a desperate bid to reach safety.
​”In the middle of class, I suddenly heard students screaming; some were jumping from the upper floors, and others were running away through the doors,” said Simon Kasamira, a teacher at the school who was admitted to a local medical clinic following the incident. “Parents came from all over looking for their children. That’s when I saw a huge fire engulfing our school.”
​Patrice Buduge, a local community leader, noted that the panic caused many students to faint or lose consciousness before being trampled. Local medical personnel reported treating scores of victims for severe asphyxiation.
Christophe Zigashane, a nurse at a nearby clinic, confirmed receiving around 50 critical patients, including multiple teachers.
​On Friday, September 11, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) confirmed that the death toll had risen to 26 children, with 25 others undergoing medical treatment for various injuries.
​Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, has been under the control of the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group since early 2025. Following the disaster, M23 officials declared three days of public mourning, reporting that the deceased included 20 girls and six boys.
​The Congolese Ministry of Education issued a statement expressing “profound sadness” over the event, noting that an investigation into the cause has been launched alongside local administration officials.
​Prominent figures across the nation voiced grief over the event. Congolese Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr. Denis Mukwege issued an urgent call for humanitarian aid on social media, stating: “A tragedy of such magnitude, which has shattered the dreams and futures of so many children, cannot become just another news story.”
​The blaze also consumed over 500 surrounding residential structures built tightly along Bukavu’s steep hillsides. Densely constructed wooden housing and a widespread lack of municipal firefighting infrastructure regularly contribute to fatal blazes in major Congolese urban hubs.
Specialists attribute the frequency of such incidents to unmanaged residential sprawl and illegal connections to the power grid.
Funerals for the young victims were scheduled to take place this Saturday.
