Explosion and stampede at Central African Republic school kill 29 children

On June 26, 2025, a tragic incident at Barthelemy Boganda High School in Bangui, Central African Republic, resulted in the deaths of at least 29 schoolchildren and injuries to over 250 others. The catastrophe occurred when an electrical transformer malfunctioned during school hours, leading to an explosion and subsequent stampede.

Approximately 5,000 students were present at the time, attending higher-education exams. The explosion caused panic, with students attempting to flee the building. Some died while trying to escape, and others sustained fatal injuries after jumping from the building.

Survivors described the chaos and terror during the incident. Many injured students were rushed to hospitals, some transported via motorcycles due to the emergency. Local residents expressed anger and blamed the government for neglecting the maintenance of the transformer. Government personnel were met with hostility upon arrival at the scene.

Gédéon Cyr Ngaïssé, president of the school’s parents’ association, condemned the lack of maintenance and demanded an investigation into the tragedy. This incident has raised serious concerns about infrastructure safety and governmental accountability in the Central African Republic.