2025 Bangui school stampede

2025 Bangui school stampede

Date	25 June 2025
Location	Barthelemy Boganda High School, Bangui, Central African Republic
Coordinates	4°23′44″N18°33′37″E / 4.395572°N 18.560139°E / 4.395572; 18.560139
Type	Human stampede
Cause	people flee after a nearby explosion
Deaths	29
Non-fatal injuries	280+

On 25 June 2025, 29 students were killed and more than 280 were injured in a crush in Bangui, Central African Republic at Barthelemy Boganda High School during the second day of the baccalaureate exams. The event was triggered by an explosion at a nearby electricity transformer which caused panic among the 6000 students who were taking the exam. ^{[1] [2]}

The explosion occurred when power was being restored to a malfunctioned electrical transformer on the ground floor of the main building. The resultant noise and smoke caused alarm among the students who were taking the history and geography exams, leading them to flee towards the small door on the upper floors. Most of the victims, including 16 girls, died at the scene during the stampede while others were confirmed dead at the hospital. Some students died after jumping out of the building in an attempt to escape. ^{[3] [4] [5]} The victims were transported via ambulance, pickup trucks and motorbikes. The incident quickly overwhelmed local hospitals. According to Abel Assaye, the Director General of the Community Hospital, the hospital received 85 patients and 15 had died, including 2 pregnant women. ^{[6] [7]}

Aftermath and reactions

A period of three days of national mourning from 27 June to 29 June was declared by President Faustin-Archange Touadéra. He also ordered that the 280 injured students get free treatment in hospital. The Minister of education Aurélien-Simplice Zingas offered his condolences to affected families and students. He also announced that further exams were suspended. ^[1] Government officials who arrived at the scene were pelted with different objects by local residents who accused them of negligence. Gédéon Cyr Ngaïssé, president of the school’s parents’ association condemned the incident which he attributed to poor maintenance and called for an investigation. ^{[4] [8]} The Republican Bloc for the Defence of the Constitution, a coalition of opposition parties, also condemned the incident and blamed the authorities for irresponsibility. ^[7] There were also official international condolences; including from Turkey. ^[9]

An extensive investigation was started into the cause of the disaster. ^[5]

References

1. "Central African Republic exam crush: Panic following blast kills 29 pupils in Bangui". BBC News. June 26, 2025. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
2. "Centrafrique: au moins 29 morts au lycée Barthélémy Boganda de Bangui, le président Touadéra appelle à trois jours de deuil". www.rfi.fr (in French). June 26, 2025. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
3. "An explosion and ensuing stampede kill 29 children in a Central African Republic school". ABC News . Retrieved June 26, 2025.
4. "An explosion and ensuing stampede kill 29 children in a Central African Republic school". AP News . June 26, 2025. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
5. "Central African Republic Tragedy: 29 School Students Killed, Over 250 Injured In Explosion & Stampede At High School In Bangui". Free Press Journal. June 26, 2025. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
6. AfricaNews (2025-06-26). "Central African Republic declares three days of national mourning following stampede". Africanews. Retrieved 2025-06-27.
7. "Stampede in Central African Republic leaves 29 students dead". South China Morning Post. 2025-06-26. Retrieved 2025-06-27.
8. "Dozens killed in Central African Republic school stampede – DW – 06/26/2025". dw.com. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
9. Türkiye offers condolences after deadly school stampede in Central African Republic