DRCONGO-DISASTER-FIRE-SCHOOL
A family member of a child who died in the fire shows a photograph of the deceased child to visitors who came to offer their support at the family home, on the eve of the collective burial of the 26 children who died in the blaze in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on September 13, 2026. A fire and stampede at a school in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo killed at least 26 children, the UN children's agency said on Friday, with some pupils leaping from windows on high floors to escape the carnage. The blaze in the city of Bukavu on Thursday began around 9:00 am (0700 GMT) while the children were in lessons, forcing some to try to escape by jumping from higher floors, a teacher told AFP. (Photo by Jospin Mwisha / AFP)