Hundreds gather in eastern Congo to mourn victims of school fires

BUKAVU, Congo - On Monday, hundreds of mourners gathered at a mass funeral in eastern Congo to honor 27 young victims of a fire that destroyed two schools. Families wept as officials placed wreaths and spoke at the ceremony. A fire swept through the two adjacent schools last week, causing a stampede as students tried to escape the building.

At least 27 students lost their lives and dozens more were injured, according to local authorities. The fire, which began at a house before spreading to the schools, has an unknown cause, but the densely populated area with wooden houses is a likely factor. Local neighborhood administrator Moïse Lubala told The Associated Press that several students were trapped inside Furaha secondary school and suffocated.

The exact number of injured remains unclear, as medical staff struggled to keep track of the large number of casualties. Annunciat Kujirabwinja Zagabe came to the funeral to say goodbye to her 13-year-old grandson, Tuonane Machara wa Kidogo. She expressed deep distress over his sudden death, recalling his academic success and her struggle to accept his passing.

Alice Ambika Musafiri, a teacher at the school, wept as she recalled the fire and the children's cries for help. Since February 2025, Bukavu has been controlled by M23 rebels, a group struggling to maintain control over the eastern region of Congo, where more than 100 armed groups vie for control of valuable mineral resources. The region is grappling with the deadliest Ebola outbreak in history, which has claimed over 3,300 lives and resulted in more than 6,800 confirmed cases.

Corneille Nangaa, leader of the political-military coalition Alliance Fleuve Congo, promised measures to protect school children from future fires, urging residents to take action to prevent further damage.