Fire in DR Congo community and schools, over 20 children feared dead

Thairath•International•10d ago

Reader Briefing

A fire destroyed over 300 homes and two schools in the Kadutu district of Bukavu, DR Congo, with fears that more than 20 children died.

•A fire occurred in the Kadutu district of Bukavu, DR Congo, on Thursday, September 10, 2026.
•Over 300 houses and two schools were burned.
•It is estimated that up to 24 children and an unspecified number of adults may have died.
•The city of Bukavu is currently under the control of M23 rebels.

•A fire broke out in the Kadutu district of Bukavu on Thursday, September 10, 2026.
•The fire destroyed more than 300 houses and two schools, causing chaos and stampedes during evacuation.
•Estimates suggest up to 24 children may have died, with additional adult fatalities reported.
•Survivors were transported to nearby hospitals, and the fire was reported to have subsided by the afternoon.
•Bukavu is the capital of South Kivu province and has been occupied by M23 rebels since February of the previous year.
•Rebel-appointed authorities are assessing the situation to announce the initial death toll.
•The central government in Kinshasa expressed condolences via platform X and ordered a damage assessment of the schools.
•This tragedy follows a recent fire at a wedding banquet hall in Kinshasa involving stampede fatalities.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Kadutu(คาดูตู)ℹ️

A district in Bukavu where the fire occurred.

Bukavu(บูคาวู)ℹ️

A city in eastern DR Congo and capital of South Kivu province, currently occupied by M23 rebels.

South Kivu(คีวูใต้)ℹ️

The province where Bukavu is the capital city.

Democratic Republic of the Congo(สาธารณรัฐประชาธิปไตยคองโก)ℹ️

The country where the fire occurred, also referred to as DR Congo.

Kinshasa(กรุงกินชาซา)ℹ️

The capital city where the central government is located and where a recent wedding banquet fire occurred.

M23

A rebel group that has occupied Bukavu since February of the previous year.

Central Government(รัฐบาลกลาง)ℹ️

The government in Kinshasa that expressed condolences and ordered school damage assessments.

Reuters(รอยเตอร์)ℹ️

The news agency that reported eyewitness accounts of the fire.