Mass funeral in Bukavu for 26 children killed in DR Congo school blaze | Africanews (https://www.euronews.com/2026/09/14/mass-funeral-in-bukavu-for-26-children-killed-in-dr-congo-school-blaze)            (https://www.africanews.com/amp/2026/09/14/mass-funeral-in-bukavu-for-26-children-killed-in-dr-congo-school-blaze/)  (index.html)  (https://sdk.privacy-center.org) (https://fonts.googleapis.com)  (index.html)  (https://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-57x57.png?v=3) (https://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-60x60.png?v=3) (https://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-72x72.png?v=3) (https://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-76x76.png?v=3) (https://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-114x114.png?v=3) (https://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-120x120.png?v=3) (https://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-144x144.png?v=3) (https://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png?v=3) (https://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-180x180.png?v=3) (https://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png?v=3) (../../../../favicon-32x32.png@v=3) (../../../../android-chrome-192x192.png@v=3) (../../../../favicon-96x96.png@v=3) (../../../../favicon-16x16.png@v=3) (../../../../manifest.json@v=3) (https://www.africanews.com/safari-pinned-tab.svg?v=3)   (RSS - No Comment) (https://www.africanews.com/feed/rss?themes=no-comment)  (../../../../css/lightslider-665bf9cf25.min.css)  (../../../../css/video-js-8d393d09be.css)  (../../../../css/videojs-79556b8d53.ima.css)  (../../../../css/main-998c6e1382.css)     (index.html#start-of-content) Skip to main content   Welcome to Africanews Please select your experience     (https://www.africanews.com/) (Africanews) ">                (https://www.africanews.com/live/) (Africanews)        (en) En (fr) Fr    No Comment  Join us (https://www.facebook.com/africanews.channel/)      (https://twitter.com/africanews)      (https://flipboard.com/@Africanews)    (https://www.youtube.com/c/africanews)      (https://www.linkedin.com/company/africanews?trk=biz-companies-cym)    (https://www.instagram.com/africanews.en)                 (https://www.africanews.com/news/) (News) News   (https://www.africanews.com/business/) (Business) Business   (https://www.africanews.com/sport/) (Sport) Sport   (https://www.africanews.com/culture/) (Culture) Culture   (https://www.africanews.com/science-technology/) (Science & Technology) Science & Technology   (https://www.africanews.com/no-comment/) (No Comment) No Comment   (https://www.africanews.com/programmes/) (Programmes) Programmes   (https://www.africanews.com/programmes/af-podcast/) (Podcast) Podcast    (https://www.africanews.com/live/)  Live   (https://www.africanews.com/weather/)    (Search ...)             (https://www.africanews.com/weather/) weather  Close (index.html#)         (Search ...)     Watch Live     (https://www.africanews.com/news/) (News) News  (https://www.africanews.com/business/) (Business) Business  (https://www.africanews.com/sport/) (Sport) Sport  (https://www.africanews.com/culture/) (Culture) Culture  (https://www.africanews.com/science-technology/) (Science & Technology) Science & Technology  (https://www.africanews.com/no-comment/) (No Comment) No Comment  (https://www.africanews.com/programmes) (Programmes) Programmes  (https://www.africanews.com/programmes/af-podcast/) (Podcast) Podcast   (https://www.africanews.com/weather) (Weather) Weather      Breaking
                News  Close (index.html#)       (index.html#)  Just In (share_on_your_website) (share_on_your_website) Copy/paste the script below  (<iframe src="http://www.africanews.com/embed/timeline/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="min-height:500px; width:100%; height:100%;"></iframe>)  (https://www.africanews.com/page/widgets/) OTHER WIDGETS       September 15, 2026  12:01   (https://www.africanews.com/2026/09/15/africas-rainmakers-still-in-demand-but-face-challenges-from-climate-change/) (Africa's rainmakers still in demand but face challenges from climate change) Africa's rainmakers still in demand but face challenges from climate change      10:24   (https://www.africanews.com/2026/09/15/shanghai-celebrates-37th-tourism-festival-showcasing-cultural-heritage/) (Shanghai celebrates 37th Tourism Festival showcasing cultural heritage) Shanghai celebrates 37th Tourism Festival showcasing cultural heritage      09:31   (https://www.africanews.com/2026/09/15/nearly-94000-displaced-by-renewed-fighting-in-yemen/) (Nearly 94,000 displaced by renewed fighting in Yemen) Nearly 94,000 displaced by renewed fighting in Yemen     Advertising     08:27   (https://www.africanews.com/2026/09/15/cape-verdes-president-neves-to-run-for-re-election-in-november/) (Cape Verde's President Neves to run for re-election in November) Cape Verde's President Neves to run for re-election in November      08:11   (https://www.africanews.com/2026/09/15/at-least-two-killed-and-tents-destroyed-in-israeli-strikes-on-gaza-camps/) (At least two killed and tents destroyed in Israeli strikes on Gaza camps) At least two killed and tents destroyed in Israeli strikes on Gaza camps      07:58   (https://www.africanews.com/2026/09/15/university-students-launch-student-list-to-shake-up-serbias-elections/) (University students launch ‘student list’ to shake up Serbia’s elections) University students launch ‘student list’ to shake up Serbia’s elections      07:21   (https://www.africanews.com/2026/09/15/aliko-dangote-hails-refinery-ipo-as-historic-day-for-africans/) (Aliko Dangote hails refinery IPO as 'historic day' for Africans) Aliko Dangote hails refinery IPO as 'historic day' for Africans     September 14, 2026  21:47   (https://www.africanews.com/2026/09/14/drc-children-killed-in-bukavu-school-fire-laid-to-rest/) (DRC: Children killed in Bukavu school fire laid to rest) DRC: Children killed in Bukavu school fire laid to rest      20:49   (https://www.africanews.com/2026/09/14/threads-of-fragility-moroccan-artist-transforms-tangier-museum/) (Threads of fragility: Moroccan artist transforms Tangier museum) Threads of fragility: Moroccan artist transforms Tangier museum      20:00   (https://www.africanews.com/2026/09/14/dangote-ipo-drc-fire-tragedy-and-regional-developments-africanews-today/) (Dangote IPO, DRC fire tragedy and regional developments [Africanews Today]) Dangote IPO, DRC fire tragedy and regional developments [Africanews Today]      18:30   (https://www.africanews.com/2026/09/14/pope-leo-xiv-unveils-giant-wave-for-new-water-exhibition-at-vatican-library/) (Pope Leo XIV unveils giant wave for new water exhibition at Vatican Library) Pope Leo XIV unveils giant wave for new water exhibition at Vatican Library      18:26   (https://www.africanews.com/2026/09/14/dangote-refinery-opens-to-public-ownership-in-africas-biggest-ipo/) (Dangote refinery opens to public ownership in Africa's biggest IPO) Dangote refinery opens to public ownership in Africa's biggest IPO      18:10   (https://www.africanews.com/2026/09/14/at-least-50-soldiers-killed-in-jihadist-attack-on-malian-army-base/) (At least 50 soldiers killed in jihadist attack on Malian army base) At least 50 soldiers killed in jihadist attack on Malian army base     Advertising       View more          (index.html#home) No Comment   (index.html#just-in) just in          Mass funeral in Bukavu for 26 children killed in DR Congo school blaze  Last updated: 21 hours ago  Families gathered around rows of coffins, some carrying photographs of the victims, while hundreds attended the service in the eastern city. UNICEF said at least 26 children died and 25 others were injured.

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. 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.

A report by the Congolese education ministry said three fires had started at sites about 500 metres apart, with some victims dying from asphyxiation. The blaze also destroyed hundreds of homes, with local officials estimating that around 300 houses were affected, and left dozens of people injured. At one point, 21 patients were in intensive care.

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

The cause of the fire remains unknown, with both the authorities in Kinshasa and the M23 administration calling for an investigation.    (https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/14/mass-funeral-in-bukavu-for-26-children-killed-in-dr-congo-school-blaze/)    (https://twitter.com/home?status=http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/14/mass-funeral-in-bukavu-for-26-children-killed-in-dr-congo-school-blaze/)    (https://plus.google.com/share?url=http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/14/mass-funeral-in-bukavu-for-26-children-killed-in-dr-congo-school-blaze/)    (mailto:?subject=Mass funeral in Bukavu for 26 children killed in DR Congo school blaze&body=http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/14/mass-funeral-in-bukavu-for-26-children-killed-in-dr-congo-school-blaze/)    (whatsapp://send?text=http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/14/mass-funeral-in-bukavu-for-26-children-killed-in-dr-congo-school-blaze/)      More about  (https://www.africanews.com/tag/dr-congo/) DR Congo (https://www.africanews.com/tag/children/) Children (https://www.africanews.com/tag/fire/) Fire (https://www.africanews.com/tag/kivu/) kivu (https://www.africanews.com/tag/funeral/) Funeral (https://www.africanews.com/tag/m23/) M23     up next       (https://www.africanews.com/2026/09/14/israeli-strike-on-gaza-vehicle-kills-two-hamas-engineers-13-wounded/) (Mass funeral in Bukavu for 26 children killed in DR Congo school blaze)    (https://www.africanews.com/2026/09/14/israeli-strike-on-gaza-vehicle-kills-two-hamas-engineers-13-wounded/) Israeli strike on Gaza vehicle kills two Hamas engineers, 13 wounded    (https://www.africanews.com/2026/09/14/indonesia-races-to-find-129-missing-after-java-sea-ferry-capsizes/) (Mass funeral in Bukavu for 26 children killed in DR Congo school blaze)    (https://www.africanews.com/2026/09/14/indonesia-races-to-find-129-missing-after-java-sea-ferry-capsizes/) Indonesia races to find 129 missing after Java Sea ferry capsizes    (https://www.africanews.com/2026/09/14/drone-strikes-hit-key-ukraine-poland-supply-route-sparking-border-fires/) (Mass funeral in Bukavu for 26 children killed in DR Congo school blaze)    (https://www.africanews.com/2026/09/14/drone-strikes-hit-key-ukraine-poland-supply-route-sparking-border-fires/) Drone strikes hit key Ukraine-Poland supply route, sparking border fires    (https://www.africanews.com/2026/08/28/norway-mourns-king-harald-v-as-crown-prince-haakon-becomes-king/) (Mass funeral in Bukavu for 26 children killed in DR Congo school blaze)    (https://www.africanews.com/2026/08/28/norway-mourns-king-harald-v-as-crown-prince-haakon-becomes-king/) Norway mourns king Harald V as crown prince Haakon becomes king    (https://www.africanews.com/2026/08/28/fans-welcome-celine-dion-outside-her-paris-hotel-as-she-prepares-to-launch-a-16show-arena-/) (Mass funeral in Bukavu for 26 children killed in DR Congo school blaze)    (https://www.africanews.com/2026/08/28/fans-welcome-celine-dion-outside-her-paris-hotel-as-she-prepares-to-launch-a-16show-arena-/) Fans welcome Céline Dion outside her Paris hotel as she prepares to launch...    (https://www.africanews.com/2026/08/28/israeli-activists-urge-eu-in-jerusalem-protest-silence-is-complicity-on-gaza/) (Mass funeral in Bukavu for 26 children killed in DR Congo school blaze)    (https://www.africanews.com/2026/08/28/israeli-activists-urge-eu-in-jerusalem-protest-silence-is-complicity-on-gaza/) Israeli activists protest outside EU offices in Jerusalem over Gaza war        More from no comment          By using this website, you agree with our use of cookies to improve its performance and enhance your user experience. More info in our (https://www.africanews.com/page/cookie/) Cookies policy page .. Ok  (https://www.africanews.com/) (Africanews) ">                Social Channels (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1_E8NeF5QHY2dtdLRBCCLA) (youtube)           (https://twitter.com/africanews) (Twitter)    (https://flipboard.com/@Africanews) (Flipboard)    (https://www.facebook.com/Africanews-1004882306242283/) (facebook)    (https://www.instagram.com/africanews.en) (instagram)       (https://www.africanews.com/page/about/) About Africanews  (https://www.euronews.com/terms-and-conditions) Terms and Conditions  (https://www.africanews.com/page/contact/) Contacts  (https://www.euronews.com/cookie-policy) Cookie policy  (https://www.euronews.com/commercial/distribution) Distribution  (https://www.euronews.com/commercial/advertising) Advertising  (https://www.africanews.com/page/jobs/) Jobs  (https://www.africanews.com/page/apps/) Apps  (https://www.africanews.com/page/widgets/) Widgets  (http://www.euronews.com) (Euronews - Latest international news) Euronews     Tuesday 15/09/2026  (en) English (fr) French