DR Congo: Bukavu buries schoolchildren killed in deadly fire (Photos)

Families in Bukavu are preparing to bury schoolchildren killed in one of the city’s deadliest recent fires, as authorities continue investigating what caused the blaze that swept through two schools and surrounding homes last week.

Coffins carrying the victims were taken to Ibanda school on Monday, where relatives, local officials and members of the community gathered for a final farewell before the bodies were due to be transported to the Ruzizi cemetery.

The exact death toll has remained unclear as authorities and medical facilities have continued to identify victims.

The AFC/M23 administration initially reported 24 deaths, while the provincial government later said at least 26 students had died — 19 girls and seven boys.

An education-sector assessment subsequently put the number of dead students at 29, saying 27 bodies were being held at Bukavu General Hospital and two at the University Clinics.

The differing figures reflect the chaotic conditions immediately after the fire, when hospitals were overwhelmed with injured students and bodies were arriving at several medical facilities.

The fire broke out on Thursday morning in the densely populated Cimpunda area of Bukavu’s Kadutu municipality. 

It began in or near a residential building before spreading rapidly to the neighbouring Furaha and Ujamaa schools.

Witnesses described scenes of panic as students attempted to escape the flames and thick smoke.

Some children were trapped inside buildings, while others rushed towards narrow exits.

According to accounts from the scene, students were pushed, fell and were trampled as large numbers of pupils tried to get out at the same time.

The fire also destroyed hundreds of homes.

Reuters reported that about 300 wooden houses were destroyed, while other assessments have put the number of damaged homes even higher

Dozens of people were injured, many suffering burns, smoke inhalation or injuries sustained during the rush to escape.

Health workers described hospitals struggling to cope with the sudden influx of children.

The cause of the fire remains unknown.

Authorities have launched an investigation to establish how it started and why it spread so quickly.

The disaster has also renewed concerns about fire safety and urban planning in Bukavu, a densely populated city where many homes are built close together and some structures are made largely of wood.

Such conditions can allow fires to spread rapidly and make it difficult for emergency responders to reach affected areas. 

A similar fire in Bukavu in October 2025 killed 14 members of two families and also raised concerns about unsafe construction and electrical hazards.

Bukavu has been under the control of AFC/M23 since February 2025, following the group’s advance across Eastern Congo. 

The city’s administration is now run by authorities installed by the movement. 

AFC/M23 leaders Corneille Nangaa and Bertrand Bisimwa travelled to Bukavu over the weekend to meet bereaved families and offer condolences.

The movement also announced that it would cover medical treatment for survivors and funeral costs for the victims.

As the coffins leave for Ruzizi cemetery, questions remain over how the fire began, whether more lives could have been saved and what can be done to prevent another tragedy in a city where densely packed neighbourhoods remain highly vulnerable to fire.

Photos