At least 14 people were killed in a devastating fire that swept through Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu Province, on the night of Sunday to Monday, October 27, 2025.
The blaze, whose cause remains unknown, broke out in the Mosala neighborhood on Maendeleo Avenue in Kadutu commune, according to local civil society reports.
Among the dead were a woman and all her children, who were trapped inside their home as flames engulfed the structure.
Witnesses said the fire spread rapidly through tightly packed houses, leaving rescue teams powerless to contain it. Several homes were reduced to ashes before firefighters could reach the scene, slowed by a lack of equipment and the crowded layout of the area.
“This is a catastrophe. Entire families have lost everything,” said a civil society representative in Bukavu. “We are calling for a thorough investigation to determine the origin of the fire.”
The exact cause of the tragedy has yet to be determined. Residents suspect an electrical short circuit, though others claim the blaze started under mysterious circumstances.
The incident adds to the growing distress in Bukavu, a city already struggling with insecurity linked to rebel activity in neighboring territories.
Regional tensions remain high due to the continued presence of AFC/M23 forces, which local authorities say are supported by Rwanda.
Community leaders and residents are now urging provincial authorities to strengthen fire prevention and emergency response systems, warning that such disasters are becoming increasingly common in Bukavu’s densely populated neighborhoods.