At least 24 schoolchildren have been killed after a fire tore through a densely packed neighbourhood in rebel-held Bukavu, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, officials say.
The blaze broke out on Thursday morning in the Cimpunda area of Kadutu commune before spreading to two nearby schools, identified locally as Ujamaa and Furaha. Many of the dead are said to have been caught in a stampede as pupils tried to flee.
The dead included 19 girls and five boys. Another 29 people were injured, many in intensive care.
Around 300 wooden homes were destroyed.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Bukavu has been controlled by the AFC/M23 rebel movement since February 2025. The death toll remains provisional and may rise.
