Tragedy Strikes as Explosion Causes Crush, Killing 29 Students in Central Africa

A nearby explosion during school exams resulted in the tragic loss of 29 students, with over 280 injured, in the Central African Republic.

In a devastating turn of events, 29 pupils taking their baccalaureate exams in the Central African Republic's capital, Bangui, lost their lives due to a crush triggered by an explosion at an electricity transformer. The explosion occurred during the second day of high school finals, sending nearly 6,000 students into a panic, as reported by local radio Ndeke Luka. Abel Assaye, director of a local hospital, conveyed the tragic news to the BBC.

President Faustin-Archange Touadéra has expressed his sorrow and declared a national mourning period, ordering free medical treatment for the over 280 individuals hospitalized due to the incident. Students from five schools were gathered at the Lycée Barthélémy Boganda for the exams when the blast occurred, reportedly following restoration efforts at the transformer.

In a statement, Education Minister Aurelien-Simplice Kongbelet-Zimgas extended his condolences to the victims' families and announced the suspension of further exams. Eyewitness accounts reveal the chaos during the event; one female survivor recounted that panic seized her upon hearing the noise, leaving her in physical pain, while another student, Magloire, described a harrowing escape through a window, witnessing the desperate struggle for survival among his peers.

This tragic incident unfolds against the backdrop of ongoing political instability in the Central African Republic, where government forces and Russian mercenaries confront armed groups threatening the administration's stability.