DRC : at least 24 dead in Bukavu fire; two schools affected

SOS Médias Burundi

Bukavu, September 10, 2026 — At least 24 people perished in a fierce fire that broke out on Thursday morning in Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo—an area under the control of the AFC-M23 politico-military coalition since February 2025. The blaze started in the Tshimpunda neighborhood of the Kadutu district before spreading to several homes and reaching two schools. The AFC-M23 reports 24 deaths—including 19 girls and five boys—and 29 injuries.

According to an AFC-M23 statement, the fire began in a densely populated area of ​​Tshimpunda before spreading rapidly to several houses. The flames then reached two schools : Mosala Primary School in the Kadutu commune and Nongo Primary School in the neighboring Bagira commune.

Emergency teams were mobilized to fight the blaze. The AFC-M23 states that their intervention succeeded in bringing the fire under control and preventing it from spreading to other buildings. However, the exact circumstances of the fire’s origin and the reasons for its rapid spread remain to be determined.

A particularly heavy toll

The toll reported by the AFC-M23 stands at 24 dead, including 19 girls and five boys. Twenty-nine people were also injured.

Among the injured, 21 require intensive care. Seventeen are being treated at the Kadutu General Hospital, and four others at the Bukavu Provincial General Hospital. The statement does not specify where the other injured individuals are being treated.

The AFC-M23, which controls Bukavu and has established a parallel administration there, is the primary official source of information regarding the toll of this disaster.

Two schools affected

According to the AFC-M23, the fire also affected two schools : Mosala Primary School in Kadutu and Nongo Primary School in Bagira.

The statement does not specify the extent of the damage to the school buildings. Nor does it clarify whether students were present at the schools when the fire broke out or if the recorded victims were primarily located in the affected homes.

An assessment of the material damage has yet to be conducted.

Origin of the fire unknown

The cause of the fire remains unknown for the time being. The AFC-M23 states that investigations are underway to determine the fire’s origin and the circumstances behind its rapid spread through this densely populated neighborhood.

The coalition also urges the public not to rely on rumors or unverified information circulating on social media.

Assistance announced

The AFC-M23 claims to have mobilized aid for those affected by the fire. The coalition also says it is providing support to the victims’ families and the injured.

This tragedy strikes a city already severely strained by the security and humanitarian crisis affecting eastern DRC.

Rescue and damage assessment operations are ongoing, while investigations aim to determine the exact origin of the fire and the circumstances under which it spread to several homes and schools.