At least 27 people, including 19 girls and 8 boys, are reported to have died after a fire broke out in two primary schools in Bukavu, South Kivu Province, on September 10, 2026.
The fire reportedly affected Ujamaa and Furaha primary schools in the Funu B and Cimpunda neighborhoods, along Lugulu Street. The incident disrupted educational activities in the area and reportedly left several people injured.
According to local sources, the fire also affected around 300 households, in addition to the two schools. The scale of the damage has raised concern among residents, particularly as the exact cause of the fire remains unknown.
Residents are calling on the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and strengthen fire-prevention and emergency-response measures, particularly around schools and densely populated residential areas.
The latest incident adds to a series of fires reported in Bukavu in recent months, raising further concerns about fire safety and the protection of civilians in the city.
Bukavu is currently under the control of the AFC/M23 movement, while the central government in Kinshasa has been largely absent from the area for more than two years amid the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
According to sources in the area, M23 authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire and assess the full extent of the human and material losses. A final report is expected to provide further details on the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The death toll and the number of affected households have not yet been independently verified, and further information could emerge as rescue and assessment operations continue.
