Bukavu (Democratic Republic of the Congo), 10 Sept. (LaPresse/AP) – At least 24 pupils have died in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in a fire that broke out in Bukavu, in the east of the country. This was reported by the rebel administration controlling the city. Lawrence Kanyuka, a spokesperson for the M23 group, stated that 19 girls and 5 boys had died, adding that 29 people had been admitted to local healthcare facilities. Moïse Lubala, the district administrator, told the Associated Press that the fire broke out in a house before spreading to two adjacent schools. He added that several pupils were trapped inside Furaha Secondary School and that some died from asphyxiation. A group of boys and girls of various ages, pupils from Furaha Secondary School and Ujamaa Primary School, were taken to the BDOM health centre in Nyamulagira still wearing their school uniforms, nurse Ciza Jean-Baptiste told the AP, emphasising that medical staff are struggling to keep track of the exact number of injured as there are so many.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Fire engulfs two schools, at least 24 pupils killed
Bukavu (Democratic Republic of the Congo), 10 Sept. (LaPresse/AP) – At least 24 pupils have died in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in a fire that broke out in Bukavu, in the east of the country. This was reported by the rebel administration controlling the city. Lawrence Kanyuka, a spokesperson for the M23 group, stated that 19 girls and 5 boys had died, adding that 29 people had been admitted to local healthcare facilities. Moïse Lubala, the district administrator, told the Associated Press that the fire broke out in a house before spreading to two adjacent schools. He added that several pupils were trapped inside Furaha Secondary School and that some died from asphyxiation. A group of boys and girls of various ages, pupils from Furaha Secondary School and Ujamaa Primary School, were taken to the BDOM health centre in Nyamulagira still wearing their school uniforms, nurse Ciza Jean-Baptiste told the AP, emphasising that medical staff are struggling to keep track of the exact number of injured as there are so many.