Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Bornet .k
At least 26 children have died and 25 others have been injured after a fire spread through two schools and nearby homes in Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, UNICEF has said.
The fire broke out on Thursday, 10 September 2026, in the Funu area of Bukavu, South Kivu Province, affecting Furaha and Ujamaa primary schools. UNICEF confirmed the casualty figure in a statement issued on 11 September.
UNICEF said the fire affected homes and the two schools, leaving at least 26 children dead and 25 injured. The agency said the injured children were receiving medical care.
The United Nations children’s agency expressed condolences to bereaved families and said it stood with the affected children, families and communities.
The fire started in a nearby home before spreading to the schools, according to local officials and reports from Bukavu. The cause of the blaze has not been established.
The affected neighbourhood contains many wooden homes and buildings. Reports said about 300 houses were destroyed in the fire.
The fire caused panic among pupils, teachers and residents. Local education authorities said some children died from suffocation, while others were injured or killed during a stampede as people tried to escape.
Reports from the scene said children attempted to leave through narrow exits. Some pupils were trapped inside the affected buildings, while others suffered smoke inhalation during the fire.
The initial casualty figures differed among agencies and authorities. UNICEF reported at least 26 children dead and 25 injured.
An earlier figure from the AFC/M23 administration in Bukavu recorded 24 deaths and several injuries. A report from local education authorities later recorded 29 pupils dead and 25 injured.
The Congolese Ministry of National Education and New Citizenship issued an initial statement on 10 September confirming that at least 17 people, including children, had died. The ministry said the circumstances and origin of the fire required investigation.
The ministry said Furaha and Ujamaa primary schools were among the institutions affected by the disaster. It expressed condolences to the families of those who died, injured pupils, teachers, school staff and the people of Bukavu.
UNICEF said the impact of the fire on children was serious and long-lasting. The agency said it was working with partners to provide mental health and psychosocial support to affected children, students, families and community members.
The agency also said it was supporting access to education for pupils affected by the fire so that they could continue the school year.
UNICEF reported that 11 children who had become separated from their parents during the emergency were reunited with their families.
Medical centres in Bukavu received injured pupils after the fire. Health workers treated children suffering from burns, smoke inhalation and injuries sustained during the stampede.
The fire placed additional pressure on health services in Bukavu, where hospitals and clinics have been affected by the wider humanitarian crisis in eastern DR Congo.
Bukavu is the capital of South Kivu Province and has been under the control of the AFC/M23 armed group since early 2025. The region has experienced prolonged armed conflict and insecurity.
The Congolese Ministry of Education said the disaster occurred during a period in which other fires had affected parts of Bukavu and disrupted education.
The ministry directed its services to document the impact on the affected schools and assess the needs of pupils, teachers and communities affected by the fire.
It also called for a rigorous and independent investigation into the circumstances and cause of the disaster.
The fire destroyed school facilities and homes in the Funu area. Families affected by the disaster have lost children, homes, school materials and personal belongings.
The deaths of pupils have caused mourning across Bukavu. The victims included schoolchildren who had been attending classes when the fire spread through the area.
Local education authorities said the bodies of pupils were taken to health facilities in Bukavu. Injured children were treated at the Kadutu Hospital and Bukavu General Reference Hospital.
UNICEF said its response focused on child protection, psychosocial support, family reunification and continuity of education.
The agency said the disaster had affected children in an environment already marked by armed conflict and insecurity.
Fire safety remains a concern in densely populated areas where homes, schools and other buildings are close together and many structures are built with combustible materials.
The official death toll remains subject to updates from emergency services, schools, hospitals and education authorities. UNICEF’s confirmed report records at least 26 children dead and 25 injured.
The Congolese Ministry of Education said children and teachers living in conflict-affected areas remained part of the country’s education community and required support.
The disaster has brought together education authorities, health workers, humanitarian organisations, local officials, teachers and families in emergency response efforts.
The immediate response has included medical treatment for the injured, identification of victims, family reunification and support for children affected by the destruction of their schools.
Stone Reporters News will provide updates based on verified information released by UNICEF, Congolese education authorities and local officials.
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