An electrical transformer explosion at a high school in Bangui, Central African Republic, triggered a deadly stampede that killed at least 29 students and injured more than 260 others during final examinations on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
The incident occurred at Barthelemy Boganda High School when power was being restored to a malfunctioning electrical transformer located within the school premises. An estimated 5,000 students from five different schools were taking their baccalaureate examinations when the explosion occurred.
Most victims, including 16 girls, died at the scene following the stampede, while others were confirmed dead at hospitals, according to the Ministry of Health. At least 260 students sustained injuries and received treatment at various medical facilities throughout the city. Some injured students were transported to hospitals on motorcycles due to the overwhelming number of casualties.
Student survivor Alvin Yaligao described the chaotic scene, stating that “the building shook and we were all terrified.” The explosion occurred midway through a history and geography examination, causing panic among the thousands of students present. The sound of the blast, combined with smoke billowing through hallways, led many students to believe the building was collapsing.
Emergency responders and local residents rushed to assist, with many students requiring immediate medical attention. Some victims died after jumping from the building’s upper floors, while others were crushed during the stampede at crowded entrances as students attempted to escape. Hospital officials reported being overwhelmed by the influx of casualties, with caregivers and ambulances facing obstructed access due to the large crowds.
The tragedy sparked immediate anger from local residents and parents, who accused the government of negligence regarding the electrical infrastructure maintenance. When government officials and utility workers arrived at the scene, they were confronted by angry crowds who pelted them with objects. Gédéon Cyr Ngaïssé, president of the school’s parents’ association, indicated that the incident resulted from a lack of proper maintenance and called for a thorough investigation.
President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, who was attending a vaccine summit in Brussels, Belgium, at the time of the incident, declared three days of national mourning. He expressed solidarity and compassion for the families of deceased students, educational staff, and other students affected by the tragedy through a video posted on Facebook.
Education Minister Aurelien-Simplice Kongbelet-Zimgas announced the immediate suspension of examinations following the incident. He stated that measures would be implemented quickly to investigate the circumstances surrounding the explosion and promised that a new date would be announced for students to resume their examinations. The minister also offered condolences to affected families and wished for the speedy recovery of injured students.
The Central African Republic continues to face ongoing political instability and security challenges, with government forces supported by Russian mercenaries battling armed groups that threaten the current administration. This latest tragedy adds to the nation’s difficulties as it struggles with infrastructure maintenance and public safety concerns.
President Touadéra issued an official order mandating that all students injured in the stampede receive free medical care. The government has confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances of the transformer explosion and assess accountability for the maintenance failures that contributed to the disaster.
The incident represents one of the deadliest school-related disasters in the Central African Republic’s recent history. The scale of casualties has overwhelmed local medical facilities and highlighted concerns about infrastructure safety in educational institutions throughout the country.
Hospital director Abel Assaye confirmed the death toll and injury count while coordinating the emergency response efforts. Medical facilities across Bangui worked to accommodate the large number of casualties, with many students requiring ongoing treatment for injuries sustained during the stampede.
The tragedy has prompted calls for improved safety measures and better maintenance of electrical infrastructure in educational facilities throughout the country. Officials face mounting pressure to ensure such incidents do not recur and to address longstanding infrastructure deficiencies that contributed to this disaster.