Twenty-four school students have been killed in a stampede following a fire at two schools in the city of Bukavu, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, which is under rebel control.
Foreign media reports say the students were caught in the crush while attempting to escape the fire.
Several adults are also reported to have died in the fire.
Those injured have been taken to hospitals in the area, according to reports.
Meanwhile, around 300 houses have reportedly been damaged by the fire. The cause of the blaze has not yet been determined.
Authorities also fear that the death toll could rise, with more people potentially having been killed.
An eyewitness told Reuters that although the fire had been brought under control by the afternoon, smoke was still rising from the debris of the destroyed buildings.
Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu Province, is one of the most densely populated mountainous cities in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The M23 rebels captured the city in February last year.
