More than 20 children feared dead in DR Congo school fire
Officials say there was a stampede as they fled a fire that engulfed two schools in the eastern rebel-held city of Bukavu.
More than 20 children feared dead in DR Congo school fire
The fire appears to have been put out but smouldering ruins remain
At least 24 schoolchildren are feared dead after a stampede as they tried to escape a fire that swept through two schools in rebel-held Bukavu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a senior official there said.
Adults are also reported to have died in the blaze, and there are concerns the death toll could climb further in the densely populated Kadutu commune.
Survivors have been taken to nearby hospitals, and video from the scene shows children lying in pain on hospital floors.
About 300 houses have also been destroyed in the fire, whose cause is still unknown.
Images shared on social media show young children lying motionless on the ground.
A witness cited by Reuters news agency said the fire had been extinguished by the afternoon, but smoke was still rising from rubble and corrugated metal.
Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province and one of the DRC's most crowded hillside cities, was seized by M23 rebels in February last year.
Authorities appointed by the rebels say they are assessing the situation and will publish a provisional death toll this evening.
Meanwhile, the government in Kinshasa issued a statement on X, without giving casualty figures.
"The Ministry of National Education and New Citizenship expressed deep sorrow over the deadly fire," it said.
"With several lives lost and many injured, the toll remains provisional. The minister offered condolences, affirmed solidarity with families, and ordered assessments of affected schools to ensure learning continuity."
The disaster comes after a similar fire in Kinshasa last weekend, where residents died in a stampede at a wedding banquet hall.
In response, the government has ordered strict safety measures and sent teams across the country to enforce standards at public gathering places.