AT least 29 students have been killed and 250 injured after an explosion resulted in a stampede at a high school.
Students were in the middle of an exam on Wednesday when an electrical transformer exploded in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic.
At least 29 students have been killed and 250 injured[/caption]
The incident occurred at Barthelemy Boganda High School[/caption]
The incident occurred at Barthelemy Boganda High School, where over 5,300 students were gathered for the second day of their national baccalaureate examinations.
Most of the victims, including 16 girls, tragically died at the scene after the explosion resulted in a stampede, while others were confirmed dead at the hospital, the Ministry of Health said in a statement.
The explosion happened as technicians were working to restore a faulty electrical transformer on the school grounds, according to the Ministry of Education.
Authorities believe panic from the blast triggered a chaotic stampede, which caused most of the fatalities and injuries.
Emergency responders arrived promptly and transported the injured to nearby hospitals.
President Faustin-Archange Touadéra has declared a period of national mourning in honour of the victims.
Investigators are currently working to determine the precise cause of the explosion and whether any safety protocols were breached.
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Students were in the middle of an exam on Wednesday when an electrical transformer exploded[/caption]
