An electrical transformer explosion at a high school in Bangui, Central African Republic, triggered a deadly stampede that killed 29 students and injured 260 others during nationwide 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 on the ground floor of the main building. An estimated 5,000 students from five different schools were present, taking their baccalaureate examinations, when the explosion created panic among the test-takers.
Most victims, including 16 girls, died at the scene during the resulting stampede, while others succumbed to injuries at local hospitals, according to the Ministry of Health. At least 260 students sustained injuries and were transported to various medical facilities throughout the capital city for treatment.
Survivors described scenes of terror as the explosion occurred midway through a history and geography examination. Student Alvin Yaligao said, “The building shook and we were all terrified.” Many students believed the building was collapsing due to the loud explosion and smoke filling the hallways.
Some victims died after jumping from the first floor of the school building, while others were killed in the stampede at crowded entrances as students attempted to escape through small doorways. Emergency responders and local residents rushed the wounded to hospitals, with some casualties transported on motorcycles due to the overwhelming number of injured.
The tragedy sparked immediate outrage among parents and community members who accused the government of negligence regarding electrical infrastructure maintenance. Government officials and utility workers arriving at the scene were met with anger from crowds who pelted them with objects.
Gédéon Cyr Ngaïssé, president of the school’s parents’ association, indicated the incident was caused by a lack of proper maintenance and called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the explosion. He demanded accountability from authorities regarding the transformer malfunction.
President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, who was attending a vaccine summit in Brussels, Belgium, when the incident occurred, declared three days of national mourning in response to the tragedy. He expressed solidarity and compassion to the families of deceased students, educational staff, and the broader student body through a video posted on Facebook.
The President also issued an official order mandating that all students injured in the stampede receive free medical care at government expense. Hospital sources reported being overwhelmed by the influx of casualties, with caregivers and ambulances obstructed by the volume of people seeking treatment.
Education Minister Aurelien-Simplice Kongbelet-Zimgas announced the immediate suspension of all remaining examinations following the incident. He stated that measures would be taken quickly to investigate the circumstances and promised to announce a new date for students to resume their baccalaureate exams.
The Ministry of National Education confirmed an official investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the transformer explosion and evaluate safety protocols at educational facilities throughout the country.
One female survivor interviewed by media outlets described falling into a daze immediately after hearing the explosion and experiencing ongoing pelvic pain from the incident. Another student, whose face was bloodied after climbing out of a window, explained that students wanted to save their lives but encountered death as they fled due to overcrowding and inadequate exit access.
The incident highlights ongoing infrastructure challenges in the Central African Republic, which continues to face political instability and security challenges. Government forces, supported by Russian mercenaries, are currently battling armed groups threatening to overthrow Touadéra’s administration.
The tragedy at Barthelemy Boganda High School represents one of the deadliest school incidents in the country’s recent history, occurring during critical examinations that determine students’ educational futures and university admissions prospects.
