At least 24 children feared dead after fire ripped through school sparking stampede as 300 buildings destroyed by flames

AT LEAST 24 children are feared to be dead after a huge fire ripped through two schools and triggered a deadly stampede. More than 300 buildings have been destroyed as terrified teachers and pupils fled the inferno in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Dramatic photos show a fireball engulfing a building and shooting out thick clouds of choking smoke Credit: Shutterstock Editorial More than 300 buildings have been burned to the ground Credit: Shutterstock Editorial People are searching through the wreckage of buildings decimated by the fires Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Schoolchildren are feared to be among the dead Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Two primary schools were engulfed in flames at around 8am in the densely populated Kadutu commune. Dramatic photos show furious fires spewing thick plumes of choking smoke as hundreds of homes are transformed into a scorched wasteland. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! The horror blaze sparked a “violent stampede” according to local leader Patrice Buduge. He added the deadly rush “forced students to trample over one another or look for a dangerous way out; many of them fainted and others lost consciousness”. Local authorities confirmed that “some of the students died in a stampede while trying to flee the flames”. Survivors with burns and smoke inhalation have been rushed to nearby hospitals – with some in critical condition. At least 14 children – all under the age of ten – have been killed, according to Christophe Zigashane, a nurse at a local clinic. He said: “We received around 50 students, including several teachers, in a critical state of asphyxia. Most read in The Sun Survivors and rescue teams search through the harrowing aftermath of the blaze Credit: Shutterstock Editorial A man looks under the rubble of a destroyed building Credit: Shutterstock Editorial “Among them, 10 were dead and four others died at the scene. That makes a total of 14 deaths, all under 10 years old.” The fire reportedly started at a neighbouring building before rapidly spreading onto the schools and setting them alight, reported AA. Emergency services raced to Ujamaa and Furaha primary schools – with firefighters battling to extinguish the flames. Authorities warn that the death toll is set to rise as rescue teams search through the scorched wreckage. Police have launched a probe into the monster blaze. Congo’s government said on X: “The Ministry of National Education and New Citizenship expressed deep sorrow over the deadly fire.” It added that the death toll remained “provisional” while vowing to conduct checks of the burnt down schools. It follows just days after a deadly fire ripped through a wedding banquet in the Congo’s capital, killing 22. The horror blaze sparked a stampede – with many guests struggling to flee through the venue’s narrow corridors. Harrowing photos show the blackened insides of the venue littered with the metal frames of burnt out chairs and scorched wedding decor. 1 comment1