In a sad day marked by a dramatic event, around fifty schoolchildren were injured following the collapse of part of the 2 Kalangala Protestant School in Goma. This school, established since 1994, was the scene of an unexpected tragedy which required the urgent intervention of local and health authorities.
Testimonies collected on site highlight the advanced dilapidation of the school, where the aging structures were unable to support the load of the students, thus causing the collapse of part of the plank floor. This alarming situation aroused the emotion and compassion of the Military Governor of North Kivu, Major General Peter Cirimwami, who dispatched his senior advisor Prisca Luanda Kamala to assess the situation.
Faced with the critical state of the school and the seriousness of the incident, the authorities decided to immediately suspend classes in this establishment and to launch in-depth investigations to establish responsibilities and guarantee the safety of students. Prisca Luanda expressed a message of compassion towards the victims of this tragic event, stressing the need for a complete reassessment of the viability of the school.
On the medical front, the North Kivu Provincial Hospital received several injured children, some of whom had to be transferred from La Charité hospital. Doctor Sébastien Matata indicated that the vital prognosis of certain children remained compromised, requiring urgent and attentive care.
Thus, this tragedy at EP 2 Kalangala revealed the glaring shortcomings in the safety of school infrastructure, inviting a deep reflection on construction standards and maintenance of educational establishments. The lessons learned from this painful event must serve as a catalyst for concrete actions aimed at ensuring a safe school environment conducive to the development of students.