At least 27 students have died after a devastating fire swept through two schools and a densely populated residential neighbourhood in Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, leaving hundreds of families affected and triggering widespread mourning across the city.
The deadly Bukavu school fire broke out on September 10 in the Cimpunda area before rapidly spreading through nearby wooden structures and reaching Furaha Secondary School and Ujamaa Primary School.
Local authorities initially reported a higher death toll, but the figure was later revised to 27 students.
Hundreds of people gathered in Bukavu on Monday for the burial of the young victims, with grieving parents, teachers and residents attending an emotional funeral ceremony.
Fire Spread Rapidly Through Densely Populated Area
According to local officials, the blaze is believed to have started at a nearby house before spreading into surrounding buildings.
The neighbourhood contains a large number of closely packed wooden structures, allowing the flames to move rapidly through the area.
Around 300 homes were destroyed or rendered unusable as the fire tore through the neighbourhood.
The flames eventually reached the two adjoining schools while students were inside, creating panic as children attempted to escape.
Some students became trapped inside the buildings, while others rushed towards narrow exits or attempted to escape through windows.
The resulting chaos led to a stampede, with students suffering suffocation and crush injuries in addition to injuries caused by the fire.
Dozens of Students Injured
Dozens of injured students were transported to medical facilities across Bukavu following the disaster.
Local health workers faced significant pressure as hospitals and clinics attempted to treat a large number of casualties at the same time.
Earlier reports indicated that several critically injured patients required intensive care, while medical staff struggled to establish an immediate and complete casualty count because victims had been taken to different health facilities.
Families Mourn Children Lost in Bukavu Tragedy
Scenes of grief surrounded the funeral ceremony as families laid their children to rest.
Teachers who survived the disaster have also described the difficulty of trying to help students escape as panic spread through the schools.
The tragedy has prompted renewed concerns over fire safety, evacuation routes and emergency preparedness in schools located in densely populated areas.
Local authorities have called for stronger measures to prevent similar disasters and improve protection for students.
Cause of Bukavu Fire Under Investigation
The precise cause of the fire has not yet been established.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine how the blaze started and why it spread so rapidly through the neighbourhood and school buildings.
Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, has been under the control of the M23 rebel movement since February 2025, adding another layer of difficulty to emergency response and public services in the conflict-affected region.
The destruction of two schools and hundreds of homes has left the community facing not only the loss of young lives but also major questions over rebuilding, school safety and support for displaced families.
For Bukavu, the disaster has become one of the city's most painful recent tragedies, with the burial of 27 students turning a devastating fire into a period of collective mourning across the community.