A devastating incident in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR), has left 29 students dead and over 280 injured, after a blast from an electricity transformer sparked mass panic during national high-school exams.

According to Abel Assaye, Director of the Bangui Community Hospital, the tragedy unfolded on the second day of the baccalaureate exams at Lycée Barthélémy Boganda, where nearly 6,000 students from five local schools had gathered.

The explosion occurred during ongoing repairs to a ground-floor transformer located in the school’s main building. Local reports suggest that the blast happened shortly after power was restored, triggering a loud noise and smoke that led students to believe an attack was underway.

“The noise of the explosion, combined with smoke, caused widespread panic,” reported local radio station Ndeke Luka. Many students attempted to flee through narrow exits, resulting in a deadly crush.

President Faustin-Archange Touadéra declared a period of national mourning and ensured that all wounded students receive free medical treatment.

In a statement, Education Minister Aurelien-Simplice Kongbelet-Zimgas expressed condolences to the victims’ families and announced an immediate suspension of exams.

The transformer-related blast is a painful reminder of the critical role of electrical safety, particularly in public and educational buildings. Though the transformer itself was under repair, the sudden return of power appears to have triggered the explosion—a situation that calls for enhanced maintenance protocols and emergency response preparedness in regions facing infrastructure fragility.

Survivors described scenes of chaos and fear. One injured student told the BBC, “We were in the exam room… I heard a noise, and immediately everything went blank.” Another student, interviewed by Radio France Internationale, described escaping through a window, bloodied and in shock, during the history and geography exam.

The Central African Republic continues to struggle with political and security instability. While the transformer blast was not linked to any attack, the tense national climate likely amplified the fear and confusion that led to the deadly stampede.

Source: BBC