The Aporia · Mass funeral in Bukavu for 26 children killed in DR Congo school blaze

On September 11, a school fire at Ujamaa Primary School in Bukavu, DR Congo, killed at least 26 children and injured 25 others. The incident occurred around 9am local time while students were in class; the wooden building caught fire simultaneously from three separate points about 500 meters apart, resulting in a stampede that left many trampled. The blaze also destroyed hundreds of homes nearby, with M23 authorities ordering a three-day mourning period and officials calling for an investigation into the cause of the fire.

Written by AI on 2026-09-14, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

Story summary

On Thursday, September 11, a fire broke out around 9am local time at Ujamaa Primary School in Chimpunda, Bukavu's Kadutu commune, killing at least 26 children and injuring 25 others. The blaze started simultaneously at three sites about 500 metres apart, causing some victims to die from smoke inhalation as they attempted to flee the wooden building. Additionally, around 300 houses were destroyed in the fire. UNICEF reported on the incident while M23, which controls Bukavu since February 2025, declared three days of mourning for the tragedy.

Written for “School Fire In DR Congo” on 2026-10-30, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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Families gathered around rows of coffins, some carrying photographs of the victims, while hundreds attended the service in the eastern city. asserted

hundreds → gather → city

UNICEF said at least 26 children died and 25 others were injured. asserted

others → say → ?

The fire broke out at around 9am local time (07:00 GMT) on Thursday, 11 September, while pupils were attending lessons at Ujamaa Primary School in the Chimpunda neighbourhood of Bukavu’s densely populated Kadutu commune. asserted

pupils → break → commune

As the flames spread through the wooden building, some children jumped from upper floors while others rushed towards the exits, triggering a stampede in which pupils were trampled. asserted

pupils → spread → which

A report by the Congolese education ministry said three fires had started at sites about 500 metres apart, with some victims dying from asphyxiation. asserted

victims → say → asphyxiation

The blaze also destroyed hundreds of homes, with local officials estimating that around 300 houses were affected, and left dozens of people injured. asserted

houses → destroy → people

Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, has been under the control of the Rwanda-backed AFC/M23 armed group since February 2025. asserted

Bukavu → back → February

M23 authorities declared three days of mourning and initially put the death toll at 24, including 19 girls and five boys, before UNICEF later raised the figure to 26. asserted

UNICEF → declare → 26

The cause of the fire remains unknown, with both the authorities in Kinshasa and the M23 administration calling for an investigation. asserted

authorities → remain → investigation

Mass funeral in Bukavu for 26 children killed in DR Congo school blaze

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