A tragic incident has unfolded in the Central African Republic where a nearby blast led to the deaths of 29 students during their high-school exams.
Tragedy Strikes as Blast Causes Fatal Crush During School Exams in Central Africa
Tragedy Strikes as Blast Causes Fatal Crush During School Exams in Central Africa
Explosive incident claims the lives of 29 students amid a national examination in Bangui.
More than 280 individuals are reported injured following a deadly crush that ensued after an explosion near an electricity transformer in Bangui. This disaster unfolded as almost 6,000 students were sitting for their baccalaureate exams. Abel Assaye, the director of a local hospital, reported the grim incident to the BBC, highlighting that the noise from the explosion triggered widespread panic among the students.
The explosion occurred on the second day of the exams at the Lycée Barthélémy Boganda, where students from five different schools had gathered to take their finals. According to reports, the transformer, which was undergoing repairs, erupted after power was restored, filling the space with smoke and chaos.
President Faustin-Archange Touadéra has since declared a national period of mourning and has mandated that all those injured receive complimentary medical treatment. The Education Minister, Aurelien-Simplice Kongbelet-Zimgas, expressed condolences to the families affected and announced the suspension of all further examinations.
Survivor accounts depict a harrowing scene. One student recalled falling into a daze, while another described the chaos as they attempted to escape through a window amidst the crowd. Eyewitness Magloire recounted the terrifying moment during the history and geography exam when students were forced to flee, confronting a small exit that many could not reach.
This incident adds to the long-standing issues of political instability and security concerns in the Central African Republic, where government forces, with Russian support, are engaged in ongoing battles with armed groups threatening the current administration.
As the community mourns the loss of young lives, the implications of the tragedy resonate deeply in a nation already grappling with significant challenges.
