More than 20 children killed in DR Congo school fire

At least 24 schoolchildren have died in a stampede as they tried to flee a devastating fire that engulfed two schools in rebel-held Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The blaze, which appears to have been extinguished, has left widespread destruction and a trail of devastation in its wake. According to officials, the fire also claimed the lives of adults, and the death toll is expected to rise further due to the densely populated nature of the Kadutu commune. Survivors have been taken to nearby hospitals, where they are receiving treatment for their injuries. The cause of the fire remains unknown, but it has been reported that 300 houses have been destroyed in the blaze. Rebel-appointed authorities have confirmed the provisional death toll of 24, while the government has released a statement expressing deep sorrow over the tragedy. The Ministry of National Education and New Citizenship has offered condolences to the families of the victims, affirming solidarity with them and ordering assessments of affected schools to ensure learning continuity. This tragedy comes on the heels of a similar fire in Kinshasa last weekend, which claimed the lives of residents in a stampede at a wedding banquet hall. In response, the government has ordered strict safety measures and deployed teams nationwide to enforce standards at public gathering places.