Mass funeral for 26 killed in DR Congo school fire

In Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a heart-wrenching mass funeral was held for 26 children who tragically lost their lives in a school fire. The inferno broke out at around 9am on Thursday, September 11, as pupils were seated in their classrooms at Ujamaa Primary School in the Chimpunda neighborhood of the densely populated Kadutu commune.

As the flames ravaged the wooden structure, some frightened children leapt from upper stories, while others made a dash towards the exits, causing a chaotic stampede where innocent pupils were trampled.

Families stood shoulder to shoulder, some holding photographs of their bereaved children, while hundreds of mourners gathered to pay their respects in the service. UNICEF reported that at least 26 children perished and 25 others were injured in the catastrophe. The Congolese education ministry’s report stated that three separate fires ignited at sites approximately 500 meters apart, with some victims succumbing to asphyxiation.

The blaze also razed hundreds of homes, with local officials estimating that around 300 dwellings were affected, leaving dozens of people injured. At one point, 21 patients found themselves in critical condition.

The city of Bukavu, which serves as the capital of South Kivu province, has been under the rule of the Rwanda-backed AFC/M23 armed group since February 2025. M23 authorities declared a three-day mourning period and initially claimed a death toll of 24, including 19 girls and five boys, before UNICEF later increased the figure to 26. The source of the fire remains unknown, with both Kinshasa authorities and the M23 administration calling for an investigation.