An explosion followed by a stampede at a high school in the capital of the Central African Republic has left at least 29 students dead and over 250 injured, authorities reported on Thursday.
The explosion occurred on Wednesday at Barthelemy Boganda High School in Bangui while power was being restored to a malfunctioning electrical transformer on the school premises, according to the country's Ministry of National Education.
The incident took place on Wednesday at Barthelemy Boganda High School, where over 5,300 students were taking the second day of their baccalaureate exams. According to the Ministry of National Education, the explosion happened during efforts to restore power to a faulty electrical transformer on the school premises.
President Faustin-Archange Touadéra has declared a period of national mourning.
Officials stated that the explosion sparked widespread panic, resulting in a stampede that caused most of the deaths and injuries. Emergency services arrived swiftly and the injured were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Officials said the blast triggered panic, leading to a stampede that caused many of the fatalities and injuries. Emergency services responded quickly, and the injured were taken to nearby hospitals.
A detailed probe is underway to determine the exact cause of the explosion and assess accountability.
