BANGUI, June 27 (Xinhua) -- A total of 29 students have been confirmed dead and 36 others critically injured after a Wednesday blast triggered a stampede at Barthelemy Boganda High School in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR).
In a report issued on Thursday, the country's Directorate General of Civil Protection said that at around 12:22 p.m. local time, a power transformer exploded near the school, where 5,311 students were taking baccalaureate exams.
The blast released a large amount of toxic gas, causing breathing difficulties and even unconsciousness. As panic spread and students attempted to flee, a major stampede occurred.
According to the report, the death toll continued to rise due to the lack of an organized emergency response.
While the exact cause of the incident remains unclear, the report stressed an urgent need to reinforce security in schools.
A three-day national mourning period has been observed in the CAR since Thursday to honor the victims. ■
