BANGUI, Central African Republic — A tragic incident unfolded in the capital city of the Central African Republic when an explosion caused by electrical transformer issues and the resulting panic claimed the lives of at least 29 schoolchildren and injured over 250 others at a local high school, officials announced on Thursday.
The catastrophic event occurred Wednesday at Barthelemy Boganda High School in Bangui as authorities were working on restoring power to a malfunctioning electrical transformer on the school grounds, according to reports from the Ministry of National Education.
The explosion caused sheer panic, and most victims, including 16 girls, succumbed either at the scene or later at the hospital, as stated by the Ministry of Health. In total, 260 students were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment of their injuries.
At the time of the incident, approximately 5,000 students were seated in the school, preparing to take higher-education examinations. Survivors recounted the terrifying experience of hearing a thunderous explosion from the transformer amidst the exam.
“The building shook and we were all terrified. It was every person for themselves,” shared Alvin Yaligao, a student caught in the heart of the incident.
Tragically, some of the students met their end by jumping from the building, while others were caught in the chaos at crowded exits as they desperately tried to flee. As panic spread, many students fainted and needed immediate medical attention, with some being transported to hospitals by motorcycle.
The local community expressed their outrage, directing blame at government officials for failing to address the transformer issues adequately. In a show of anger, residents threw objects at government officials and workers who arrived at the scene after the incident.
“We deplore this incident, which was caused by a lack of maintenance,” remarked Gédéon Cyr Ngaïssé, the president of the school’s parents’ association, to reporters. He emphasized the need for a thorough investigation to prevent such a tragedy from reoccurring.