A blaze that spread across two schools in the rebel‑held city of Bukavu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has killed more than 20 children and several adults, officials say.

First responders reported that a stampede occurred as students attempted to escape the flames, leading to a surge of deaths in the densely populated Kadutu district.

Survivors were transported to nearby hospitals, where footage shows children lying on floors in pain. The fire, whose cause remains unknown, left around 300 houses destroyed.

Rebel‑appointed authorities released a provisional death toll of 24 on Thursday evening, but there are fears the number could rise. Social media posts depicted children lying motionless on the ground after the blaze was extinguished.

Bukavu became a focal point for conflict last year when M23 rebels seized the city, adding complexity to emergency response and infrastructure maintenance.

The Kinshasa government issued a statement via X expressing sorrow over the loss of life. The Ministry of National Education and New Citizenship urged solidarity with affected families and called for school safety assessments to maintain learning continuity.

The fire comes after a similar disaster in Kinshasa last weekend, where a stampede at a banquet hall claimed several lives. In response, authorities have deployed teams nationwide to enforce safety standards at public venues.

For more context, the incident follows broader discussions on how ongoing conflict and limited resources hinder the implementation of fire safety protocols in school settings.