The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported Friday that emergency aid efforts are ongoing in the Central African Republic, following the tragic stampede at Barthélemy Boganda High School in Bangui that claimed the lives of 29 students and injured over 260 others.

The incident occurred Wednesday during nationwide exams, when a malfunctioning electrical transformer exploded as power was being restored, sparking chaos among more than 5,000 students in the school compound.

Many believed they were under attack and fled in panic. Some students were crushed in stairwells, others leapt from first-floor windows, and many were injured trying to escape the building.

Among the victims was the school’s headmaster, René Mandji, who died the following day of cardiac arrest, reportedly due to shock from the incident.

OCHA noted that humanitarian agencies and the national government are working together to provide medical supplies, food, psychological support, and assess further needs among survivors and affected families.

“Thanks to the swift response of local authorities and the UN peacekeeping mission MINUSCA, a wider catastrophe was averted,” said Mohamed Ag Ayoya, OCHA’s country representative.

From Brussels, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and declared three days of national mourning beginning Thursday. He also committed state funding to cover medical and support costs for the injured and bereaved.

At Community University Hospital, Dr. Abel Assaye reported treating a large number of injured youth, including several in critical condition. “We registered 15 deaths at our facility,” he said, noting that most victims were teenage girls, including three pregnant students.

The remaining 14 fatalities were confirmed by Bangui University Hospital, Médecins Sans Frontières, and the Maman Domitien medical center, which are also providing care and support.

Local parents’ associations have called for an investigation, citing prior transformer faults and alleging negligence by education officials.

The Ministry of Education has suspended national exams and promised a full inquiry into the cause of the transformer failure and emergency response protocols.

As the country mourns its young victims, civil society groups are urging reforms to improve school infrastructure and emergency preparedness, emphasizing the need for safe learning environments for Central African youth.

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