In a heartbreaking turn of events, a tragic incident has taken place at a high school in the Central African Republic during school exams. According to reports, an explosion near the school led to a stampede that resulted in the death of 29 students and left over 280 others injured.
The incident, which occurred on the second day of high-school finals on Wednesday, took place at an electricity transformer, as confirmed by Abel Assaye from the Bangui community hospital. The noise and smoke from the explosion caused panic among the nearly 6,000 students who were sitting the baccalaureate at a school in the capital, Bangui, according to a local radio station, Ndeke Luka.
President Faustin-Archange Touadéra has declared a period of national mourning and ordered free hospital treatment for the injured students. The exam-taking students were from five different schools in the capital who had gathered at the Lycée Barthélemy Boganda to sit the baccalaureate exam.
The education ministry explained that the explosion occurred after power was restored at the electricity transformer, located on the ground floor of the main building, that had been undergoing repairs. Education Minister Aurelien-Simplice Kongbelet-Zimgas expressed his condolences to the affected families and announced the suspension of further exams.
A female survivor shared her harrowing experience with the BBC, stating, "I don't even remember what happened. We were in the exam room and when I heard a noise, I immediately fell into a daze. Since then, I have had a pain in my pelvis that is causing me a lot of problems."
Another student, Magloire, who spoke to Radio France Internationale, described the chaos that ensued during the history and geography exam. "The students wanted to save their lives, and as they fled, they saw death because there were so many people and the door was really small. Not everyone could get out," Magloire explained.
The Central African Republic continues to face political instability and security challenges. Government forces, backed by Russian mercenaries, are battling armed groups threatening to overthrow Touadéra's administration.
This unfortunate incident is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by students in the region, as they strive for a better future. Our thoughts and prayers are with the affected families during this difficult time.
For more news from the African continent, visit BBCAfrica.com and follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, Facebook at BBC Africa, or Instagram at bbcafrica. Listen to our podcasts, Focus on Africa and This Is Africa, for more insightful stories from the region.
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