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Bukavu fire kills at least 24 schoolchildren, officials say

By Drooid · Sep 11, 2026, 8:42 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Bukavu Fire Kills

A fire in Bukavu killed at least 24 schoolchildren.
Rebel-appointed authorities released a provisional death toll of 24 on Thursday evening.
The blaze destroyed roughly 300 houses, about 500 buildings and a hospital.
The Ministry of National Education said the fire hit Furaah and Ujamaa schools.
Officials reported 15 students died in a stampede while fleeing the flames.

Summary

Kanyuka Confirms Control

M23 rebel leader Lawrence Kanyuka confirmed the death toll and said the group controls Bukavu.
Bukavu has been under Rwanda-backed M23 authority since February 2025 after a rapid offensive.
The region’s health system is overwhelmed by the deadliest Ebola outbreak, with over 3,300 deaths.
Nurse Ciza Jean-Baptiste said clinics cannot track injured numbers as dozens flood them.

History

Historical Context

The 1994 Rwandan genocide, which claimed roughly 800,000 lives, triggered massive refugee flows into eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, igniting protracted conflict. The United Nations peacekeeping mission MONUC, deployed in 1999, recorded over 2,000 civilian deaths in the Kivu region by 2003, highlighting insecurity. Today's M23 seizure of Bukavu in February 2025 mirrors those earlier incursions, as rebel groups repeatedly exploit power vacuums to dominate schools and hospitals. Consequently, the legacy of 1994-era displacement fuels recurring humanitarian crises, prompting international donors to allocate $150 million for emergency health and education aid.

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Bukavu Fire Kills

A fire in Bukavu killed at least 24 schoolchildren.
Rebel-appointed authorities released a provisional death toll of 24 on Thursday evening.
The blaze destroyed roughly 300 houses, about 500 buildings and a hospital.
The Ministry of National Education said the fire hit Furaah and Ujamaa schools.
Officials reported 15 students died in a stampede while fleeing the flames.

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