A fire in Bukavu, eastern Congo, killed at least 24 students on Thursday, according to the rebel administration controlling the city.
Lawrence Kanyuka, spokesperson for the M23 rebel group, stated that 19 girls and five boys died in the incident. Twenty-nine individuals were being treated at local medical facilities for injuries.
The fire began in a house before engulfing two adjacent schools, local administrator Moïse Lubala told The Associated Press. Several students were trapped inside Furaha secondary school, with some succumbing to smoke inhalation.
Students from both Furaha secondary and Ujamaa primary school, of various ages, were brought to the Nyamulagira BDOM health center, according to nurse Ciza Jean-Baptiste. Medical staff reported difficulty in tracking the precise number of injured due to the high volume.
"The exit was too narrow, so some students began jumping through windows while others rushed toward the door. As everyone tried to force their way out, students were pushed over and trampled on," Lubala said.
The cause of the fire remains unknown. The neighborhood where the fire occurred is densely populated, with most homes constructed of wood, Lubala noted.
The Congolese government's control over the eastern part of the country is limited. The M23 rebels, reportedly backed by Rwanda, took control of Bukavu in February 2025. Eastern Congo is a region with significant mineral wealth, attracting over 100 armed groups vying for control. The region's health services are already severely strained by the deadliest Ebola outbreak in history, which has resulted in over 3,300 deaths and more than 6,800 confirmed cases.