Victims from the fire in AFC/M23-held Bukavu include primary school students, say officials and media reports.
Published On 10 Sep 2026
A devastating fire in the rebel-controlled city of Bukavu, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has claimed the lives of at least 20 people, including young students, according to local media and medical sources.
United Nations Radio Okapi, quoting local authorities, reported that 20 people were killed and an unspecified number injured on Thursday when a fire broke out in the Chimpunda district of Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province.
The incident occurred at approximately 8:00 am local time at the Ujamaa and Furaha primary schools and an adjacent residential settlement.
The fire was “followed by a violent stampede that forced students to trample over one another or look for a dangerous way out; many of them fainted and others lost consciousness,” local leader Patrice Buduge told the AFP news agency.
Dunia Masumbuko Bwenge, an official from the rebel administration, told the Reuters news agency that 24 people had died—19 girls and five boys.
Bwenge, who serves as the vice governor of South Kivu province in the government appointed by the Rwanda-backed AFC/M23 movement, added that 29 others were injured.
Christophe Zigashane, a nurse at a local clinic, told AFP that at least 14 children were among those killed.
“We received around 50 students, including several teachers, in a critical state of asphyxia,” he said. “Among them, 10 were dead and four others died at the scene. That makes a total of 14 deaths, all under 10 years old.”
Footage verified by Al Jazeera showed the blaze consuming a number of houses, with flames spreading to reach the two schools.
Local media reported that the fire also ravaged between 300 and 500 homes and a clinic.
The death toll remained provisional, and the cause of the fire was yet to be established.
Several people were treated for smoke inhalation, with some said to be in critical condition.
Congolese media noted that Bukavu has experienced several fires in recent days, including a blaze that broke out last Sunday and destroyed more than 45 houses.
Bukavu has been controlled by AFC/M23 rebels since the group staged a lightning offensive in eastern DRC last year.