More than 20 children are feared dead in a devastating fire that swept through two schools in Bukavu, a city in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The fire occurred in the rebel-held Kadutu commune, where many residents live in densely packed areas. According to a senior official, the incident happened as children attempted to flee the flames, leading to a chaotic stampede. Adults are also reported to have died, and the death toll may rise as rescue and recovery efforts continue. Survivors have been taken to nearby hospitals, where footage shows children lying on the floors in pain. Approximately 300 homes were destroyed in the fire, though its cause remains unclear. Witnesses reported that the fire was extinguished by the afternoon, but smoke continued to rise from the rubble and corrugated metal structures. Social media posts shared images of young children lying motionless on the ground, highlighting the tragedy's emotional impact. Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, was captured by the M23 rebel group in February of last year. Rebel-appointed authorities are currently assessing the situation and plan to release a provisional death toll. Meanwhile, the government in Kinshasa expressed deep sorrow over the incident through a statement on X (formerly Twitter), noting that several lives were lost and many others were injured. The minister in charge of education offered condolences to the affected families and affirmed the government's solidarity with them. They also ordered assessments of the affected schools to ensure that learning can continue as soon as possible. This tragedy follows a similar incident in Kinshasa, the DRC’s capital, where a fire at a wedding banquet hall last weekend resulted in multiple deaths due to a stampede. In response to the recent fires, the government has issued strict safety measures and deployed teams across the country to enforce safety standards at public gathering places. The incidents have raised concerns about fire safety and emergency preparedness in crowded areas.