AT LEAST 24 children are feared to be dead after a huge fire ripped through two schools and triggered a deadly stampede.
More than 300 buildings have been destroyed as terrified teachers and pupils fled the inferno in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
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Two primary schools were engulfed in flames at around 8am in the densely populated Kadutu commune.
Dramatic photos show furious fires spewing thick plumes of choking smoke as hundreds of homes are transformed into a scorched wasteland.
The horror blaze sparked a “violent stampede” according to local leader Patrice Buduge.
He added the deadly rush “forced students to trample over one another or look for a dangerous way out; many of them fainted and others lost consciousness”.
Local authorities confirmed that “some of the students died in a stampede while trying to flee the flames”.
Survivors with burns and smoke inhalation have been rushed to nearby hospitals – with some in critical condition.
At least 14 children – all under the age of ten – have been killed, according to Christophe Zigashane, a nurse at a local clinic.
He said: “We received around 50 students, including several teachers, in a critical state of asphyxia.
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“Among them, 10 were dead and four others died at the scene. That makes a total of 14 deaths, all under 10 years old.”
The fire reportedly started at a neighbouring buidling before rapdily spreading onto the schools and setting them alight, reported AA.
Emergency services raced to Ujamaa and Furaha primary schools – with firefighters battling to extinguish the flames.
Authorities warn that the death toll is set to rise as rescue teams search through the scorched wreckage.
Police have launched a probe into the monster blaze.
Congo’s government said on X: “The Ministry of National Education and New Citizenship expressed deep sorrow over the deadly fire.”
It added that the death toll remained “provisional” while vowing to conduct checks of the burnt down schools.
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