Fire at school in rebel-controlled Bukavu kills at least 17
Quick Look
- A fire at a school in the rebel-controlled city of Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, has resulted in at least 17 deaths, including children.
- The cause of the blaze remains unknown as local hospitals report dozens of students admitted for injuries.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Bukavu has been controlled by Rwanda-backed AFC/M23 rebels since the group staged a lightning offensive in eastern Congo last year.
A fire at a school in Congo's rebel-controlled city of Bukavu has killed at least 17 people, including some children, local and medical sources said on Thursday.
A witness at the scene told Reuters he had helped to load 17 bodies of deceased men and children into an ambulance.
A local health centre said it had received 10 bodies of people killed in the fire.
Another hospital said it had admitted more than 50 students, 14 of whom died.
The cause of the fire was not immediately clear.
Corneille Nangaa, coordinator of the rebel alliance, told Reuters he didn't have an exact figure yet but put the death toll at around 10.
Bukavu has been controlled by Rwanda-backed AFC/M23 rebels since the group staged a lightning offensive in eastern Congo last year.
Congolese civilians gather as they attempt to extinguish fire at a school and neighbouring settlement in the area controlled by Rwanda-backed AFC/M23 rebels.
A hospital in the region said it had admitted more than 50 students, 14 of whom died.
Smoke could be seen rising over the Congolese village after the devastating school fire.
School fires are common in parts of Africa.
The settlement has been controlled by Rwanda-backed AFC/M23 rebels since the group staged an offensive in eastern Congo last year.
Open Questions
- What is the exact cause of the fire?
- What is the final confirmed death toll?