29 Students Killed, Over 250 Injured In Stampede At Central African Republic School

At least 29 students have died and more than 250 others sustained injuries in a stampede at Barthelemy Boganda High School in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, authorities confirmed on Thursday.

The tragic incident occurred on Wednesday during final exams, when an electrical explosion caused panic among over 5,000 students gathered within the school premises. Local officials say the explosion happened as power was being restored to a malfunctioning transformer located on the school grounds.

According to the country’s Ministry of Health, most of the victims died at the scene, while at least 260 injured individuals are currently receiving treatment in various hospitals across Bangui.

Emergency services and government agencies have since been deployed to manage the aftermath, while investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the explosion and assess any lapses in safety protocols.

The stampede is one of the deadliest school-related tragedies in the nation’s history and has prompted widespread mourning and calls for improved infrastructure and emergency preparedness in educational institutions.