A deadly fire swept through two primary schools in the Cimpunda neighborhood, in the Kadutu commune of Bukavu, capital of South Kivu province, on the morning of Thursday, September 10. The toll, still provisional, grew heavier throughout the day, climbing from around fifteen victims reported in the morning to more than twenty according to local authorities and medical sources, with some outlets reporting as many as twenty-six students dead by late afternoon.
The fire broke out on Avenue Funu B, in a house near the Ujamaa and Furaha schools, commonly known as « Kwa Mogo, » before spreading rapidly to both buildings while students were still inside. According to witnesses on the scene, panic gripped the children during the evacuation, triggering a crush that worsened the toll. Several students were overcome by smoke, some losing consciousness before they could even get out of the buildings. Ambulances made repeated trips between the site of the disaster and Bukavu’s provincial general hospital throughout the morning.
Beyond the two schools, the fire also destroyed nearly five hundred homes and a health clinic, according to the head of Avenue Funu. The cause of the blaze remains undetermined at this stage, with an investigation expected to establish the exact circumstances of the disaster.
The Congolese Ministry of National Education and New Citizenship expressed its deep sorrow in a statement, noting that the children, teachers, and families of this Bukavu neighborhood remain full Congolese citizens and deserve the state’s solidarity. The government in Kinshasa said it intends to assist the victims, a task complicated by the fact that Bukavu has been under the control of the AFC/M23 rebellion for several months.
The disaster unfolds against an already troubling backdrop. Provincial authorities had recorded more than 2,500 fire incidents in Bukavu between July and August, and the city has seen a string of fires in recent months that have disrupted schooling for many students. The Ministry of Education said it was essential for the causes of these recurring fires to be established through a rigorous and independent investigation, and called for stronger protective measures for the city’s population and school infrastructure.