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At least 26 pupils were killed in a stampede following a fire outbreak at a school in Bukavu, the largest city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, which is controlled by the M23 armed group, according to UNICEF.
Local official Patrice Budugi told AFP that a fire of "unknown" origin broke out near a school in the Bagira district on the northern outskirts of the city on Thursday morning, adding, "This was followed by a violent stampede among students looking for a way out."
UNICEF stated in a release that 25 other children were injured.
The M23 movement announced a three-day mourning period on Friday, amid widespread nationwide grief over the tragedy.
Funerals for the victims are expected to be held on Saturday.
Christophe Zigashani, a nurse at a nearby clinic, said, "We received about 50 students, along with a number of teachers, who were suffering from severe suffocation."
He added, "Among them, ten had already passed away, while four others died at the scene."
He noted that 27 people, including two teachers, were transferred in critical condition to other hospitals in the city.
The fire swept through a vast, densely populated area located on a hillside. Residents were making their way through the rubble of charred homes filled with twisted metal sheets.
Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, is controlled by the anti-government M23 group, which has seized vast areas of eastern DR Congo.
The city is located on the shores of Lake Kivu and is known for its wooden houses built on hillsides.
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