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At least 24 schoolchildren are feared dead in a stampede as they tried to flee a fire that engulfed two schools in rebel-held Bukavu in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a senior official there has said.<\/p>\n
Adults are also reported to have died in the fire and there are fears that the death toll could rise further in the densely populated Kadutu commune.<\/p>\n
Survivors have been taken to nearby hospitals, and footage of the scene shows children lying on hospital floors in pain.<\/p>\n
Some 300 houses have also been destroyed in the fire, the cause of which is unknown.<\/p>\n
Pictures circulating on social media show young children lying motionless on the ground.<\/p>\n
A witness quoted by Reuters news agency said the fire had been put out by afternoon but smoke was still rising from rubble and corrugated metal.<\/p>\n
Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province and one of DR Congo’s most crowded hillside cities, was captured by M23 rebels in February last year.<\/p>\n
Rebel\u2011appointed authorities say they are assessing the situation and will release a provisional death toll this evening.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile the government in Kinshasa released a statement on X, without specifying numbers of casualties.<\/p>\n
“The Ministry of National Education and New Citizenship expressed deep sorrow over the deadly fire,” it said.<\/p>\n
“With several lives lost and many injured, the toll remains provisional. The minister offered condolences, affirmed solidarity with families, and ordered assessments of affected schools to ensure learning continuity.”<\/p>\n
The tragedy follows a similar fire in Kinshasa last weekend, where residents died in a stampede at a wedding banquet hall.<\/p>\n
In response, the government has ordered strict safety measures and deployed teams nationwide to enforce standards at public gathering places.<\/p>\n