Transformer Explosion Kills 29 Students In Central African Republic While Writing Exams

Some 29 students were killed in a crush after an electricity transformer explosion occurred while they were writing exams in their school in the Central African Republic.

The explosion caused panic, according to Abel Assaye, the Director of Bangui community hospital.

The Director said the explosion took place on the second day of the high-school final exams on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.

He said the explosion occurred at an electricity transformer.

“The noise of the explosion, combined with smoke” caused alarm among the almost 6,000 students sitting the baccalaureate at a school in the capital, Bangui, local radio station Ndeke Luka reported.

President Faustin-Archange Touadéra has declared a period of national mourning.

He also ordered that the more than 280 who were wounded in the crush get free treatment in hospital.

Students from five different schools in the capital had gone to the Lycée Barthélémy Boganda to sit the baccalaureate exam.

The education ministry says the explosion happened after power was restored at the electricity transformer, located on the ground floor of the main building, that had been undergoing repairs.

“I also offer our sincere condolences to the parents of the affected candidates and wish a speedy recovery to the injured candidates,” Education Minister Aurelien-Simplice Kongbelet-Zimgas says in a statement.

He also announced the suspension of further exams.

Radio France Internationale spoke to one of the survivors whose face was covered in blood after he had climbed out of a window.

Magloire explained that the blast happened during the history and geography exam.

“The students wanted to save their lives, and as they fled, they saw death because there were so many people and the door was really small. Not everyone could get out,” he told RFI.