Global (Commonwealth Union) _ A tragic stampede that took place at a school situated in Banguai, in the Central African Republic, has resulted in the deaths of 29 students and injured 260. The tragedy followed the explosion of an electrical transformer in the midst of the ongoing national exams, triggering mass panic among the students inside the building.
The incident happened on Wednesday at Lycée Barthélémy Boganda, where students from 5 schools were participating in the baccalaureate exams. According to the Central African Republic’s Ministry of National Education, the explosion was caused by the restoration of power to a transformer that was still undergoing repairs on the ground floor.
The explosion, followed by smoke, had alarmed the students, who believed they were facing an attack. The nearly 6000 students rushing for the exits resulted in a crushing stampede, with several students reportedly leaping down from the upper floors in a frenzied attempt to escape. The Ministry of Health confirmed that many of the victims, including 16 girls, died on the scene of the incident or just shortly after being taken into the hospital.
The medical staff announced that hundreds of students were being treated for various injuries, ranging from broken bones to severe trauma. With a large number of students being hospitalised, many of them had to be transported via motorcycles due to the limited number of ambulances available. Many of the victims were allegedly unable to recall the events clearly, having been in shock.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra declared a period of national mourning. Hospitals have also received instructions to provide free treatment to the injured, and the Education Ministry has suspended all upcoming exams.
The tragedy has stirred reactions from the public, with many accusing the school officials and the government of being negligent in dealing with the electrical malfunction. The head of the school’s parents’ association called for a full investigation into the incident and the cause of the transformer failure, stating that the accident could have been avoided.
