At least 24 students have died after a fire swept through two schools and nearby homes in Bukavu, a city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo controlled by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group.
The fire broke out on Thursday in South Kivu province, killing 19 girls and five boys and injuring 29 other people, according to Dunia Masumbuko Bwenge, vice governor of South Kivu under the administration installed by the M23 movement.
The blaze destroyed two schools and about 300 wooden homes in the affected neighbourhood, leaving families searching through the remains of their properties for belongings that survived the fire.
A witness, Pierre Mudahama, told Reuters that children had already arrived at school when the fire started nearby. He said ambulances were brought to the scene to transport victims.
Hospitals and health centres in Bukavu received victims following the incident. Early reports gave different casualty figures as medical workers treated the injured and authorities worked to establish the full extent of the disaster.
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The varying initial figures reflected the difficulty of determining the final death toll immediately after the fire. Officials continued assessing the situation, meaning the number of casualties could still change.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known. Authorities were expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the outbreak and determine how the flames spread through the schools and surrounding residential area.
The disaster comes as residents of eastern Congo continue to cope with the effects of prolonged conflict and displacement. Bukavu has been under the control of the Rwanda-backed AFC/M23 rebel movement since the group captured the city during its offensive in February 2025.
The M23 advance has contributed to a wider humanitarian crisis in the region, forcing large numbers of people from their homes and disrupting access to essential services.
For families affected by Thursday’s fire, the destruction of homes represents another severe setback. Many residents lost shelter and personal possessions, while the deaths of students have added to the shock surrounding the incident.
The destruction of the schools is also expected to disrupt education for children in the affected community, while families of those killed face the consequences of the tragedy.
