Tragedy in the Congo: Fire at primary school leaves at least 15 children dead
A heartbreaking tragedy shook the city of Bukavu, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, this Thursday, following a voracious fire that consumed the Mogo primary school, located in the Kadutu commune. The incident has left a preliminary toll of fifteen children dead, as confirmed by local authorities in the South Kivu province.
Théo Ruremesha, the town’s mayor, reported that rescue efforts were extremely complex due to the difficulty of accessing the affected area. Many of the students were rescued by the neighbors themselves, who tried to help the victims amidst the rubble before the flames completely consumed the educational structure.
We do not yet have an accurate count nor do we know the exact cause. So far, 15 bodies of schoolchildren have been accounted for. They were all boys. Some were rushed to the hospital, but several were found lifeless in the rubble.
Théo Ruremesha, Mayor of Kadutu
Context of a recurring crisis
According to initial investigations, the fire originated in homes adjacent to the school while students were in the middle of their school day. The rapid spread of the fire not only affected the school, but also destroyed numerous houses in the area, leaving multiple families destitute and without their belongings.
This event occurs at a critical moment for Bukavu, a city facing a wave of fires during the current dry season. According to data provided by Jean Jacques Purusi, governor of South Kivu, the situation has reached alarming levels in recent months:
- More than 2,500 homes have been destroyed between July and early September.
- The provincial government has requested an independent investigation to clarify the causes of this recurrence of incidents.
- There is growing concern regarding the lack of safety measures and the fragility of urban structures in the face of fire.
Local authorities continue to work on identifying the victims and assessing structural damage, while the community demands answers regarding the constant threat posed by fires in this region of eastern Congo.
