A Catastrophic Fire Destroys a Neighborhood in Bukavu, Killing 14 People

Amidst the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in the rebel-controlled city, a terrible overnight fire raced through Bukavu’s working-class Funu district, killing 14 members of two families and leaving a community in despair.

Red Cross volunteers and young people from the area labored gravely amid the burned ruins of fallen houses in the smoky aftermath on Monday morning. Around midnight, the fire broke out, quickly consuming several homes in a neighborhood notorious for its uncontrolled construction and frequent electrical risks.

Olivier Bangalwa, another resident, recounted the horrifying moment individuals were trapped, saying, “Those on the upper floors could no longer flee when I saw the staircase engulfed in flames.” Women and children made up the majority of the victims.

The tragedy brings to light Bukavu’s ongoing urban safety issues, where improvised electrical installations and fast, uncontrolled building provide a continual risk of fire. The security situation in the city of Bukavu has been ruled by the AFC-M23 rebels since February 2025, complicating the calamity even further.

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