A fire that broke out Thursday morning in the Chimpunda neighborhood of Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo, killed at least 24 students at two adjacent schools and destroyed around 300 wooden houses.

The victims included 19 girls and five boys, according to officials from the AFC/M23 rebel administration that has controlled the city since February 2025. Some reports placed the student death toll at 26. The fire started at a house before spreading to Ujamaa primary school and Furaha secondary school.

Local authorities said a stampede contributed to the fatalities as students rushed to escape through a narrow exit. Several students were trapped inside one school and suffocated. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

29 people were receiving medical treatment, including 21 in intensive care, rebel spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka reported. Hospitals admitted dozens more with burns and smoke inhalation.

Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, has faced ongoing instability under rebel control backed by Rwanda. The densely populated area features many wooden structures that fueled the rapid spread of flames.

The provisional toll could rise as search and recovery efforts continue. The rebel-appointed vice governor of South Kivu confirmed the figures and noted that an investigation is underway into the circumstances of the blaze.

This incident highlights persistent challenges in eastern Congo, where weak central government authority has allowed armed groups to seize control of resource-rich regions.