School fire in rebel-held Bukavu kills at least 17

A fire near two primary schools in Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, killed at least 24 children, according to officials linked to the rebel administration, while other reports put the provisional death toll between 14 and 26 as authorities verified casualties. The dead reportedly included 19 girls and five boys, and dozens of students, teachers and other residents were injured, many from smoke inhalation or a stampede during the evacuation. The blaze destroyed hundreds of homes in the densely built Bagira district, with some reports estimating that more than 300 houses burned and other buildings were demolished to create a firebreak. The fire was brought under control, but its cause remained under investigation. Bukavu is controlled by the Rwanda-backed AFC/M23 rebel movement.