An explosion triggered a stampede at a high school, killing at least 29 students and injuring 250 others.
On Wednesday, an electrical transformer exploded in Bangui, the Central African Republic’s capital, as students were taking their final exams.
The blast occurred at Barthelemy Boganda High School, where over 5,300 students had gathered for the second day of their national baccalaureate exams.
The majority of the victims, including 16 girls, died at the scene of the stampede caused by the explosion, while others were confirmed dead in hospitals, according to a statement from the Ministry of Health.
According to the Ministry of Education, the explosion occurred while technicians worked on the school grounds to repair a faulty electrical transformer.
Alvin Yaligao, one of the students, recalled: “The building shook, and we were all terrified.
“It was everyone man for himself.”
Survivors also reported hearing a loud explosion from the transformer halfway through the exam, causing chaos to ensue.
Some of the victims died after jumping out of the building, while others were killed while attempting to flee through the crowded entrance to the upper floors.
Others fainted in the chaos and were rushed to the hospital, some on motorcycles.
Authorities believe that the blast triggered a stampede, which caused the majority of the fatalities and injuries.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene, transporting the injured to nearby hospitals.
Locals were outraged by the explosion, accusing the government of negligence for failing to address the electrical transformer problems.
Furious residents pelted government officials and workers with various objects as they arrived at the scene.
Gdon Cyr Ngass, President of the school’s Parents’ Association, has called for an investigation into the tragedy.
He said further: “We deplore this incident which was caused by a lack of maintenance.”
President Faustin-Archange Touadéra has declared a period of national mourning.
Investigators are currently investigating the precise cause of the explosion and whether any safety protocols were violated.
