Archive · 11 Sep 2026
Bukavu Fire Kills at Least 24 Children, Sources Say
A large fire happened in Bukavu, a city in eastern Congo.
It damaged two schools and about 300 wooden homes.
The rebel administration said 24 children died, including 19 girls and five boys.
At least 29 other people were hurt.
Some injured people were in intensive care.
Earlier reports gave smaller numbers because officials and hospitals were still counting the victims.
One witness said he helped put 17 bodies into an ambulance.
The fire was put out, but smoke was still rising from the ruins.
Investigators were trying to find out how the fire started.
A fire in rebel-controlled Bukavu killed at least 24 children, according to the rebel administration.
The victims reportedly included 19 girls and five boys; at least 29 people were injured.
The blaze destroyed two schools and about 300 wooden houses, according to a provincial official.
Earlier reports gave lower death tolls, including 17 bodies seen being loaded into an ambulance and 14 student deaths at one hospital.
The fire was extinguished, but its cause remained under investigation and the final death toll could rise.
- Who
- Children, students, other residents, and people near two schools were affected; the reported child victims included 19 girls and five boys.
- What
- A fire killed at least 24 children, injured at least 29 people, and destroyed two schools and about 300 wooden houses.
- When
- Thursday, September 10; the year was not specified in the reports.
- Where
- Bukavu, in South Kivu province in eastern Congo.
- Why
- The cause of the fire was not immediately known and remained under investigation.
Earlier Local and Medical Counts
Rebel Administration Count
Reported death toll
Earlier Local and Medical Counts
Initial local and medical reports cited at least 17 deaths. A health centre received 10 bodies, one hospital reported 14 student deaths, and a witness said he helped load 17 bodies into an ambulance.
Rebel Administration Count
The AFC/M23 administration later gave a provisional death toll of 24 children, including 19 girls and five boys.
Scope of the disaster
Earlier Local and Medical Counts
The initial reports focused mainly on deaths at a school and did not establish the full extent of damage.
Rebel Administration Count
A provincial official said the blaze destroyed two schools and about 300 wooden houses, with at least 29 people injured.
- Provisional death toll
- At least 24 children, according to the AFC/M23 administration
- Victim breakdown
- 19 girls and five boys
- Injured
- At least 29 people; 21 were reportedly in intensive care
- Damage
- Two schools and around 300 wooden houses were destroyed
- Earlier reports
- A witness reported 17 bodies, while one hospital said 14 of more than 50 admitted students had died
- Location
- Bukavu, South Kivu province, eastern Congo
- Cause
- Under investigation and not immediately clear
