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More than 20 children killed in DR Congo school fire
BBC • • world
Key Points:
- At least 24 schoolchildren have died in a stampede caused by a fire that engulfed two schools in rebel-held Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, with fears the death toll may rise further.
- The fire also destroyed around 300 houses in the densely populated Kadutu commune, and adults are reported among the casualties.
- Survivors have been hospitalized, and distressing footage shows injured children lying on hospital floors; the cause of the fire remains unknown.
- Bukavu, controlled by M23 rebels since February 2023, saw the fire extinguished by afternoon, though smoke continued to rise from the rubble.
- The government expressed condolences, ordered safety assessments of affected schools, and has mandated nationwide enforcement of safety standards following a similar deadly fire incident in Kinshasa last weekend.
