At least 14 children have died following a stampede triggered by a fire that broke out near a school in Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, local and health officials said on Thursday.
The fire, whose cause remains unknown, started in the Bagira district on the northern outskirts of the city while students were in class.
According to local leader Patrice Buduge, the blaze sparked panic among the pupils, forcing them to trample over one another as they attempted to escape. Some students reportedly fainted or lost consciousness during the incident.
A nurse at a nearby clinic, Christophe Zigashane, said about 50 students and several teachers were brought in suffering from severe asphyxia.
“Ten were already dead, while four others died at the scene,” he said, putting the death toll at 14. All the victims were reportedly children under the age of 10.
Zigashane added that 27 people, including two teachers, were transferred to other hospitals in the city in critical condition.
Meanwhile, local authorities reported that more than 500 homes were destroyed by the fire and that the overall death toll could be as high as 27. The figure could not immediately be independently verified by AFP through other official sources.
Large clouds of smoke were still visible around the affected area by midday, while residents searched through the debris of burned houses.
Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu Province, is located on the shores of Lake Kivu and is currently under the control of the M23 rebel group, which has seized large areas of eastern DR Congo.
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