At least 29 pupils taking school exams in Central Africa have been killed in a crush after an explosion near their test site. The blast occurred during the high-school finals on Wednesday, causing panic among nearly 6,000 students sitting the baccalaureate exam.
The explosion happened at an electricity transformer that had been undergoing repairs. A hospital director said the noise of the blast combined with smoke caused alarm among the students.
President Faustin-Archange Touadéra has declared a national mourning period and ordered over 280 wounded pupils to receive free medical treatment. The education ministry announced the suspension of further exams.
A female survivor described the scene as chaotic, saying she had fallen into a daze when she heard the blast. Another student, whose face was covered in blood, told radio France Internationale that he climbed out of a window to escape the crush, but many were trapped due to a small door. The country continues to face political instability and security challenges.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crmvjrnkkjvo