Central African Republic Exam Day Tragedy kills 29 School Children Following a Deadly Explosion At an Electricity Transformer

 

Exam day tragedy kills 29 schoolchildren A tragic incident in the Central African Republic has left 29 schoolchildren dead and more than 280 others injured following a deadly crush during national exams. The panic began after an explosion at an electricity transformer on the second day of the high school baccalaureate exams at the Lycée Barthélémy Boganda in the capital, Bangui. According to Abel Assaye, director of the Bangui community hospital, the explosion caused a loud noise and smoke that triggered panic among nearly 6,000 students from five schools gathered to take the exam. Local reports say the transformer was undergoing repairs and exploded when power was restored. The sudden chaos led to a deadly stampede as terrified students rushed to escape, many through narrow exits. Survivors described scenes of confusion and desperation. One girl said she fainted upon hearing the blast and now suffers from severe pelvic pain. Another student, Magloire, told Radio France Internationale he had to jump out of a window and witnessed people being trampled in the overcrowded corridor. President Faustin Archange Touadéra declared a period of national mourning and has ordered hospitals to treat all injured students for free. Education Minister Aurelien Simplice Kongbelet Zimgas expressed deep sorrow, offered condolences to affected families, and announced an immediate suspension of all further examinations. This devastating event highlights the broader context of instability in the Central African Republic, where government forces supported by Russian mercenaries continue to fight rebel groups aiming to destabilize the country. The tragedy has sparked widespread grief and renewed concerns about public safety during national events. The government has not yet announced when exams will resume or whether further investigations will be conducted into the transformer explosion and safety measures at the school.

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