Bangui: A tragic incident unfolded at Barthélemy Boganda High School in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, on Wednesday, when a stampede broke out following a transformer explosion, resulting in the deaths of 29 children and injuries to over 250 others. The blast occurred as power was being restored to a previously non-functional transformer located within the school premises.
Panic ensued among the more than 5,000 students present at the time for the second day of Baccalaureate examinations, leading to a deadly rush. Local authorities confirmed that emergency services responded swiftly, transferring the injured to nearby hospitals. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation. The government has extended condolences and assured full support to the families of the victims.